A large vocabulary is important for a person to succeed. Adults understand this, as they become frustrated and surprised whenever they encounter words they do not know. It is an unusual experience for an adult to encounter unknown words; however, they usually have the tools to make a good guess as to what it means. They learned about context clues when they were young, and they proceed to figure
. it out, unconsciously using the process they learned in class. How do students learn to understand new words? Finding creative ways of teaching vocabulary is important. One popular and fun method of teaching new vocabulary is making a game out of it. Probably the most popular vocabulary game is Bingo. With this popular game, the teacher explains a number of vocabulary words and writes them on the board. The students write these words into a Bingo board at their desks and then cover the words as they are read aloud. Alternatively, the teacher can also read the definition, requiring the students to remember the word and meaning together in order to play and win the game. Charades can be another fun experience for children. One group or individual will get a vocabulary word to act out, while the other classmates must raise their hands to guess the word. The teacher can require them to give the meaning of the word or use it in a sentence. This game can get very silly with students enjoying themselves, hardly realizing that they're still in class and learning new words! Another good project that students can do individually at their desks is to fill out a worksheet that contains newly learned words on it. The worksheet can ask questions like, "Where would you find ____?" Or, "What kinds of things would _______like to do?" Students can get very creative with their answers, whether they are right or not! Many of these exercises not only teach students to develop their vocabulary, but also helps them develop their creativity as well. http://www.trcabc.com/resources/top-ten-ways-to-teach-vocabulary/ or http://people.bu.edu/jpettigr/Artilces_and_Presentations/Vocabulary.htm
