Celebrating strong word choice
Kimberly Moisan encourages her Minooka Intermediate students (Minooka, IL) to strive for better word choice. She has taken a section of the classroom wall and titled it “Most Valuable Vocabulary.” When she hears students utilize strong word choice, she celebrates their growing vocabulary by inviting them to add their words to her wall.
On a note card, the student writes the new word, a simple definition, and his/her own name. With the words posted on the wall, students constantly see them and frequently utilize them within their own speaking and writing. But in the students’ minds, the reward of having their own names next to each of their own words is the real prize. They’ve upped the ante in their own speaking and writing just to get their words chosen for Mrs. Mosian’s “Most Valuable Vocabulary” wall.
NOTE: For those of you aware of my purple highlighter technique to celebrate great word choice, then you’ll love knowing that Kim Mosian has students write their words, definitions, and names on the notecards with a purple marker. Learn more about how to use the purple highlighter.