[MommyTN]

Ok, so my younguns' are bored to tears with my vocabulary lessons! I need some new ideas. We usually focus on the 6 vocab. words that go with the basal each week. Any amazing ideas out there?

[Socks]

We use Open Court and at the website www.opencourtresources.com they have power point presentations (very simple) using the vocab. They don't have them for every story but my kids really like it when I use them. The story for this week has one but I felt like I had to add some things to it. For example, one word was sneaky and all it had on the page was the word and definition. I went onto youtube (which is amazingly not blocked by our server) and found a video of a squirrel being sneaky to steal ketchup. The video was less than a minute long but the kids loved it!

Even if you don't use Open Court, power points are so easy to make, this could be one way to beef up vocab!

[Angie]

We do the definition, a synonym and an antonym. Then the kids draw a picture of the word and use it in a sentence. Sometimes I give them the words by way of playing hangman. They like that. Also, sometimes we play different games with the words.

[cool2read]

is a great vocabulary book. I highly recommend it. Easy to read also.

[TeachAbroad]

I love vocab games. Here are some things I do in class:

1. Vocabulary Bingo -- Students can write their vocabulary words in a bingo sheet and you call out the words.

2. Last week, I had two students sit in front of the class. Their chairs faced the rest of the classroom. On the board behind them (so they couldn't see) I wrote down one of our vocab words. The class was divided into 2 teams. Each time had 5 chances to give clues so the student could guess the word. For example, if the word is frantic--they would say wild, emotional, etc. I only allowed them to give one word clues, which essentially are synonyms. Somtimes I allowed a 3 word clue! But, they loved it.

3. Vocab detective--this takes preparation, but I have parents help out.Write the vocab word on an index card. Place yarn in the card so that the students can wear it around their neck. Each student gets one card which should be placed on their back (so they can't see it). The students walk around giving clues to the person so that they have to guess the word that's on their back.

4. Battleship--This is a spelling game. The students place one spelling word in one box. They play the regular battleship game, but in order to sink the ship,they have to spell the word.

5. Definition search-- I place the definition on numbered cards. I tape the cards around the classroom. The students are to number their papers and walk around to find all of the definitions that I hung up. They are to write the word that matches the definition. So, if they go to card number 6, and the definition says huge, they have to write the word immense on their paper at number 6.

I hope these help. I get a lot of ideas from this website as well as doing searches online. There's a lot of info out there.

[Kat's Mom]

I think you can search the archives here to find out about this game. It works really great for covering context clues...my kids get a lot out of it each week, and it really requires them to use good reading skills!