When students experience various ways to interact with words, they will have more opportunities to internalize and better understand the new words (Springfield Public Schools, n.d.). One activity that has been known to help students internalize and learn new words is word sketches. Word sketches is an activity for students to draw individual letters to spell out a word. By drawing out letters to spell a word, this helps students add meaning to the word, which allows students to connect and remember the word better. Students can benefit from using this strategy across all content areas. The strategy can greatly benefit all students, especially visual learners (Virginia Department of Teaching, 2012). Teachers can include this strategy into vocabulary instruction by allowing students to complete word sketches individually. Students may choose their own vocabulary word, or a word from a list to complete their word sketch drawing. When students are finished creating their word sketches, the teacher can have students share their work with their classmates to learn new words more deeply. The word sketches may be posted in the classroom such as on a word wall to motivate students to learn and utilize more words.
The instruction this teacher provides is exceptional as she allows students the option to sketch vocabulary words while learning new vocabulary terms. The students are engaged during the word sketch activity as they draw each letter of a word in a way that represents the definition of the word. When her students complete the word sketches, they are displayed within the classroom. This helps students make deeper connections with the words, and it is especially helpful for visual learners. Students are challenged to use their creativity to sketch the definition of the word with the corresponding letters of their given word. Although some students are not as artistic as others, the teacher is still able to distinguish whether a student has a developing or complete understanding of a given vocabulary term based on his or her drawing.
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This video explains how a teacher can have exemplary instruction in broadening students’ vocabularies. The goal of word sketches is for students to show their understanding of a word by drawing it in a creative way using their choice of media. The students can choose a word that is new to them or a word from a provided list. Then, they draw the word in a way that describes the word meaning, which helps them comprehend the word better. After, the students can ask for feedback and complete another word sketch with a more difficult word. Once they are finished with two words, they may explain why they drew the specific words in paragraph form on the back of their drawing. The teacher may assess the students’ understanding of the word by checking how the word is drawn and read the paragraph describing why it was drawn a certain way.
The writing standard that relates to the vocabulary strategy of word sketches is CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2.a: Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Students may draw word sketches as illustrations to accompany their writing to help their audience focus on key words and aid their comprehension. Students can also write about why they chose to draw their word sketch the way they did, which will require them to introduce the topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs or sections.
Word Sketches Strategy References
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Middle school English & reading vocabulary videos. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/middle/vocabulary/#
Springfield Public Schools. (n.d.). Classroom instruction. Retrieved from http://www.sps186.org/resources/languagearts/instruction/?p=22509
Word Sketches Video References
Emaze Amazing Presentations. (n.d.). Illustrated word. Retrieved from https://www.emaze.com/@AOQQTLOI/Art-Lesson-4.7
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Word sketches: Illustrating vocabulary words. Retrieved from http://www.vdoe.whro.org/middleenglish.1/Reading5B/DOE_ READING_5B.swf
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Middle school English & reading vocabulary videos. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/middle/vocabulary/#
Springfield Public Schools. (n.d.). Classroom instruction. Retrieved from http://www.sps186.org/resources/languagearts/instruction/?p=22509
Word Sketches Video References
Emaze Amazing Presentations. (n.d.). Illustrated word. Retrieved from https://www.emaze.com/@AOQQTLOI/Art-Lesson-4.7
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Word sketches: Illustrating vocabulary words. Retrieved from http://www.vdoe.whro.org/middleenglish.1/Reading5B/DOE_ READING_5B.swf