Use Essential Vocabulary Terms in Variety of Sentences

Research in vocabulary instruction reveals that students need numerous opportunities to work with new terms. According to Robert Marzano, a leading expert on vocabulary research, some students need upwards of 40 different workings with a word before they own it!

When looking for new ways to incorporate vocabulary into classroom instruction, consider variations of sentence writing. Each of these strategies increases in difficulty and counts as another word working.

1. The teacher provides oral sentences using the term in context. Students listen and discuss their understanding.
2. Students create oral sentences using the term in context.
3. Students write a sentence using the term in context.
4. Students write a 10-word sentence using the term in context.
5. Students create an oral sentence leaving a blank for the term and the class guesses the missing vocabulary word.
6. Students write a sentence using the term as the third or fourth word in the sentence.
7. Students say/write a single sentence using two vocabulary terms in context (to show relationship to one another).