Activity
Bookmark Vocabulary
Subject
English Language Arts (2005)
Grade Levels
Intermediate, 8th Grade
Description
There are many language arts teachers who try to implement silent reading into their classrooms as much as possible. Or else they attempt to tie in a student's outside reading with classroom activities. One great activity is "Bookmark Vocabulary". At the start of each five week period, give the students bookmarks that you have created and copied on stock paper. Everytime the student comes across a word that he or she doesn't understand, they will write it down, along with the definition. At the end of five weeks the students will probably have two or three bookmarks filled, of course some more than others. Take the second half of a class period to have students make a list of twenty of their words and turn it in to you. This will be their test on the vocabulary that they learned through reading. It was left up to the student, whether they wanted to write sentences using their words, or write the definitions. This is a great way to keep them reading, and to help the students to feel that they are in a little more control of their grades and what they are learning.
Assessment
Test at end of five weeks
Duration
5 weeks
Essential Question
Does looking up a word as you are reading a book help you to retain the definition?
