Personal Dictionary

Making Real-Life Connections to Build Vocabulary

Stage of Literacy Development:

Stage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth

Ages:

7-11

Grade Range:

2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Food Groups:

Primary:
Vocabulary

Secondary:
Knowledge Building

Activity Description

Preparation:

1. Reproduce the Personal Dictionary worksheet on chart paper
2. Choose a vocabulary word to model for the whole group lesson
3. Make copies of the worksheet for each student

Implementation:

1. Ask the class to brainstorm ways to find the meaning of words they do not know
2. Affirm that there are many strategies that can help them understand new words
    a. Explain that one good way to help learn and remember new words is to think about the times they
    have heard people use that word in real life
3. Model how to fill out the Personal Dictionary worksheet using your chosen vocabulary word
    a. Tell students your chosen vocabulary word
        • For example, “incredible”
    b. Show how to find the word in the dictionary using a think-aloud strategy
        • For example: “Incredible starts with an ‘I.’ I know that the letter ‘I’ comes right after ‘H’ and
        right before ‘J.’ Hmm...the second letter is ‘N.’ I’m at the word ‘iron’ right now. ‘R’ is after ‘N’ so I
        need to go back a few pages…"
    c. Write the definition of your chosen word on the chart
    d. Model filling out the context of the word and any feelings associated with it
        • For example: “I heard the word incredible while I was on a family trip in Cape Cod. We went out
        on the water in a boat to go whale watching. When we saw the whale come out of the water,
        my mom said, ‘Wow! That’s ‘incredible!’ It seemed really amazing.”
        • Model drawing the context in which the vocabulary word was seen or heard
4. Hand out Personal Dictionary worksheets to each student and have them complete them for a new vocabulary word
    a. This word could be self-selected or teacher-provided

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- During teacher modeling, use basic language and emphasize picture cues
- Help students choose high frequency words to include in their personal dictionary

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Ask students to start by drawing their word in context before writing
- Pair students with partners who can help find and read words from a dictionary

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Be sensitive to the different cultural contexts in which a word may be seen/heard by students
- Allow students to include a range of culturally-appropriate words in their dictionary

Differentiated Instruction:

- Provide different types of dictionaries depending on students' levels

Related References

Source:
Allen, J. (1999). Words, Words, Words: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4-12. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.

Evidence:
Stahl, S. A. (1986). Three principles of effective vocabulary instruction. Journal of Reading 29(7) pp. 662-668.

Activity Objective

The goal of Personal Dictionary: Making Real-Life Connections to Build Vocabulary is to encourage students use their own experiences to help them learn and remember the meaning of new words.

What You Need

Prep Time:

5-10 minutes
- Photocopy the worksheet for the class
- Prepare chart paper

Task Time:

30 minutes
- Students brainstorm how to find and remember the meaning of new words
- Teacher explains that using your personal experience can help you learn or remember new words
- Teacher models filling out Personal Dictionary worksheet
Students complete their own Personal Dictionary entry

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Personal Dictionary worksheet
- Chart paper
- Markers

Student:
- Dictionaries
- Personal Dictionary worksheets

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Facilitator:
- while students brainstorm ways to find the meaning of new words

Modeling:
- while showing students how to complete a Personal Dictionary entry

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during brainstorm and teacher modeling

Individual:
- while completing worksheet

Assessment Ideas:

- Observe students' worksheets to see if they have understood the activity and provided an appropriate personal example

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Have students continue to add words to their Personal Dictionary as they encounter them in the classroom or at home

- Ask students to record when they see or hear a word from their Personal Dictionary used in another context
    a. This allows students to make multiple 
    connections to one word and enrich their 
    understanding

- Ask students to demonstrate their understanding by creating original sentences using their Personal Dictionary words

Additional Comments:

- When you are first implementing this activity, you may choose to give your students all the same word. A new word that has come up in a story or class subject that the class is not very familiar with would be a good choice. This will allow students to help each other and enable you to address initial questions more effectively.