Teaching vocabulary is something that every teacher needs to be doing regardless of the content being taught. The Word Sort Reading Comprehension Strategy is a simple reading strategy that effectively teaches and reinforces vocabulary. Words Sorts have students find meaning in vocabulary words by having them group the words based on some common characteristics.

The Word Sort reading strategy really only has three simple steps to follow:

1. The teacher makes a list of words from a particular lesson, unit, or reading passage.

2. The students then work in pairs to discuss the terms and organize the terms into different categories. The categories can be set up before hand by the teacher, but it is better to have the students create their own categories. For example, a unit on the Civil War could have the students creating categories such as Causes, Major Battles, and Effects.

3. Have students discuss their reasons for categorizing the way they did.

Word Sorts can be used before reading in order to pre-teach vocabulary and tap into students’ prior knowledge about the subject, or after reading as a closure activity or reinforcement activity. Words Sorts can even be given as homework assignments. Regardless of how you decide to do your Word Sort, it is a great strategy to use when it comes to teaching vocabulary.

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As a history teacher my students must deal with lots of opinions. As I tell my students, “There are not always right and wrong answers in social studies…what is important is how you back up, or support, your answer.”

By having students make an argument and support their argument, they are not only addressing higher order thinking skills, but it is also a great way to spark student interest in a topic. As teachers know, sparking student interest in a topic is extremely important, but can also be a great challenge.

Fortunately, it is sometimes the simplest teaching strategies that can provide students with the most success. A great, and simple, teaching strategy to help students support their opinions with facts is known as the Two Column Opinion-Proof Chart. This simple teaching strategy will address higher order-thinking skills as well as spark student interest in a topic. Not only that, by the Two Column Opinion-Proof chart can be a great tool to improve reading comprehension as well.

A two column chart can be easily set up by having students fold a piece a paper in half vertically (hot-dog style). Have students label the left column “Opinion” and the right column “Proof”. The teacher can then assign an opinion or have the students choose an opinion for themselves and write it down in left column. Students must then support their opinion in right column using whatever resource or resources the teacher chooses such as textbook reading, internet, video, or newspaper.

Not only does this teaching strategy help improve comprehension and spark student interest, but students can then use their Opinion-Proof charts to write persuasive essays, newspaper editorials, letters, or even set up classroom debates.

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Are you looking for more teaching tips?

For effective teaching tips that you can start applying to your very next class make sure read 52 Teaching Tips @ www.52TeachingTips.com

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Happy New Year!

To help get your New Year off to a GREAT start here are two FREE ebooks that you are going to love…

Both ebooks (written by master teacher Rob Plevin) will help reduce classroom management problems, increase class participation AND improve student comprehension.

You can get both of these books for free right here: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1191128

The first is called Games and Activities for Language Arts Teachers, but the truth is most of these activities can be used for any subject area as most are vocabulary based.

If you’ve read any of my work then you know I am a big fan of using fun and games to teach my students and there are over 50 easy-to-use games in this one book.

The second book, Fun Starters and Fill-in Activities for the Classroom, has another 70 activities that will motivate your students to learn as well as fill in any “down” time at the end of class. If you know anything about teaching then you know how important this can be for both improving comprehension and reducing classroom management problems.

You can get both of these books for FREE right here: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1191128

**Important Note: On the download page there is a “crazy offer”…make sure you click on the link that says “Check Out Our Crazy Offer”

Trust me…you don’t want to miss out on this!

To a great new year!

Best Wishes,
Adam Waxler
Teaching Tips Machine. LLC

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As you know my whole approach to classroom management is to be proactive by keeping students actively involved in my lessons. One of my favorite ways to do this is by using cooperative learning activities. Some of the cooperative learning activities are short and simple while some or more complicated, but all of them succeed in keeping students actively engaged in my lessons…

Here is a sample of one of the cooperative/active learning activities from Rob Plevin’s Needs Focused Lessons. Simply click the following link: http://www.TeachingTipsMachine.com/Cooperative-Learning-Sample.pdf

I hope you find it useful.

Remember, cooperative learning activities form just one of the sections of the Needs-focused Lessons(TM). They can be used for any subject matter to enliven lessons and deepen learning and retention.

There are actually SEVEN more modules to the Needs Focused Lessons and members receive materials from all the modules each week. If you want to try out the whole program for just $1 you will find it here: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3728832

Best Wishes,
Adam Waxler
Teaching Tips Machine, LLC

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Have you tried iTunes U? If not, you need to check it out…Definitely a great (free) teacher resource. It is available through the iTunes store, but there is nothing to pay for…

Take a look here: iTunes U

There are lots of teacher resources for nearly every subject and grade level.  You can download audio files, videos, primary sources, and even lesson plans.
 
Many universities and colleges even have portals to all sorts of great teaching materials. For example, the University of South Florida, College of Education, provides reading resources (audio along with printed transcripts) for all grade levels and reading abilities.  Check this one out here: Lit2Go. Notice there are tabs for every grade level!
 
I’m just getting started with iTunes U, but I am very excited this teacher resource.
 
Hope you find it useful…
 
Best Wishes,
Adam Waxler
Teaching Tips Machine. LLC

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Are you looking for more teaching tips?

For effective teaching tips that you can start applying to your very next class make sure read 52 Teaching Tips @ www.52TeachingTips.com

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