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Word Bank
Purpose:
Word banks help readers expand on their existing vocabulary.
How:
- Focus on a word or words that the reader reads regularly
- Brainstorm words that have similar meanings
- Create a list of related vocabulary
- Use the alternate word(s) when reading
Watch:
Vocabulary Activities Using Word Banks
Working with Words in Many Ways - Part 3: Building a Word Bank from Partners in Reading - San Jose Public Library
Practice:
Read through a story and identify unknown words. Use a dictionary and/or thesaurus to find the definition of the words and create a list of words that mean the same or similar. Try the new words and see if they still work in the sentence or story. Use this list to create a word bank.
Mad Libs are a popular way to practice parts of speech and develop vocabulary.
- Choose a story
- Focus on vocabulary that is new or challenging to the reader
- Erase some of these vocabulary words
- Add a prompt (ex. parts of speech) under the erased word
- Have the reader fill in the blank using a word bank
- Read the completed story
- Ask 'does it make sense?'
https://www.madlibs.com/printables/
Add Complexity:
Encourage intermediate and advanced level students to practice working with dictionaries and recognize differences in the definitions of similar words, as well as increasing vocabularies.
https://www.literacymn.org/dictionaries-definitions-vocabulary