Recognizing that all students are differentiated in their unique ability types, by the time they enter 5th grade, students should be actively reading in the last stage of word learning. According to Ehri (2000) the stages of word learning are: 1-pre alphabetic, 2-partial alphabetic, 3-alphabetic, 4-consolidated, and 5-automatic. This final stage allows students to read accurately and quickly, which frees their energy to focus on comprehension.
It is important to scaffold word identification skills as students move from one learning stage into the next. Fifth graders can benefit from an explicit reading and writing strategy called new nouns and vivid verbs. This highly motivating process is effective and simple to execute. Step: 1) select an engaging piece of literature such as National Geographic's Wierd and Wonderful series, and have the kids independently read. Step: 2) Instruct students to make two lists, one for new nouns and a second for vivid verbs. Step: 3) Kids create several sentences using one from each column. Step: 4) Gather on the floor in circle, and have kids share out their favorite sentence.
By focusing on new nouns and memorable verbs this active strategy helps build vocabulary, forming good decoders, and more fluent readers. Reading their favorite sentence aloud builds self-concept and allows students to believe they can succeed. While the five stages of word learning clearly overlap, only after readers become fluent can they reach their ultimate goal of independent learning.
David
ReplyDeleteI also think that your "vivid verbs" exercise helps children develop "word consciousness" -- an interest and awareness in words. When teachers create an environment in which kids notice words - intriguing new words, interesing ways that word are used, morphology -- they not only help create students who write with precision and flair, but, as you've noted, they also help students develop an extensive vocabulary, a key factor in reading comprehension.
Nancy