One of my elementary schools has a great vocab program in which there is a word of the week. Students can submit a sentence using the word, and they are read with the daily announcements. They get such a kick out of hearing their names over the speaker.

I have also done a word of the day in classrooms, where if a student uses the word in an appropriate way, or catches me using the word, they get a point for their table.

You can use lots of ideas, programs, etc. to introduce vocabulary to students, but if you don't develop ways to encourage and hold the students accountable for using their new "smart" words in their speech and writing, then you are pretty much wasting your time. Using the words makes them permanent.

Vocabulary walls and charts in every class can work, students can see them as a reminder to use them when talking and writing in class, teachers can point to certain words easily, quick 2-3 minute activities can be developed for using the charts. A pocket chart can be used, and once filled, it's not to hard to switch older words out as new words are added to the chart.

Wow. That makes a lot of sense. Have you done this? If so, how do you go about it? Is it a big part of your literacy block?

Learning Greek and Latin roots really help increase vocabulary

Looking for suggestions on strategies to implement school wide vocabulary initiative. Our data shows we are very weak in this area. Please share anything you have had success with in your schools.