What a Bunch of Autodidacts!

Here are the latest words my students have been learning. Remember that these three columns represent three different grade levels. Left to right is sixth, ninth and twelfth grade. 

Below is the only clear picture of last weeks etymologies. I will have to practice my habit of Perfect Execution while taking pictures in order to show all of next weeks.

I have been impressed with the higher level of understanding a word a student has to have in order to draw an illustration of it. Each student is required to show with each illustration that they have an understanding of the word and at least one concept that the word represents.  Sometimes they ask for clarification before they illustrate. Other times they ask if their idea for a picture would accurately illustrate a word. Just as often though it is the picture they have drawn and their explanation of it that shows whether or not they understood what their word actually meant.

Nothing Propinks Like Propinquity

So says George Ball anyway, as he overlooks  students diligently copying vocabulary word etymologies. Studying the history of words is proving to be quite an effective way of learning the words. The stories of some words, such as the word mayhem, are fascinating. 

After reviewing the words together, students copy the etymologies from the board. This ended up being the most efficient method to assure that they all had enough time to get this step done. While we review the words they begin to imagine pictures that would accurately depict the definition of each word. This makes the word more then just letters on paper. Next, they search for at least 5 synonyms for each word. Doing this helps add clarity to the pictures they are  building of their words in their minds. Last but not least, they draw an illustration of each word. They are allowed to brainstorm and share ideas or ask for clarification of a word if their illustration reveals that they had not quite grasped the meaning of a word. 

Over the coming weeks we will continue to use last weeks words in everyday conversation, further solidifying their knowledge of the words and the ease with which they use them.

Here is a sampling of the partial etymology of six of last weeks vocabulary words. We don't have enough time or dry erase boards to show each one fully.

George Ball (named after a U.S. diplomat from the 1960's) sits here, looking over the class. On a more rowdy day George grants permission to those who have something valuable to say. If you have George, you have the floor.

Here are all of the words from last week. You might try asking your child which ten were theirs and what they mean.

Please enjoy this sampling of illustrations your children have created to help them remember their vocabulary words.