Maintain Vocabulary Notebooks

Individual vocabulary notebooks can be a useful tool to support students as they learn subject-specific and domain-specific terms. They can be useful. Vocab notebooks could also be nothing more than a worksheet that adds little value. The key to a powerful vocabulary notebook is realizing its purpose of holding a student's growing understanding of a term.
When a word is first introduced and added into the notebook, teachers cannot expect students to have its meaning learned and memorized in a matter of days. Rather, students need multiple opportunities to interact with the word over weeks and months, and it's during this learning time that the vocab notebook is powerful. Once a new word is added to the notebook, a student then updates his understanding--polishing, revising, and fine-tuning his learning.
Consequently, a vocabulary notebook must be set up to allow for multiple entries in different spaces and places. Here are two common templates that many teachers use.
Realizing that students need to interact with a word for weeks and months, consider where all that growing understanding will go. Each of the previous four template samples included 4-5 spaces for students to log their updated thinking. For many classrooms, that may be enough. But, if you're seeking a more thorough vocabulary template page, this last one may be just what you need.
In addition to the typical information (e.g., definition, explanation, example, synonym, and a visual representation), this template includes much more (Simile example).
Marion Buchko, principal at Douglas MacArthur Elementary (Cedar Lake, IN) recognized that students may need to note:
-The different word forms (e.g., noun form, verb form, adjective form, etc.)
-The various root words that comprise its meaning
-The kid-friendly tips and tricks that help students discern common confusions
-The possible multiple meanings a word may have in different contexts
This single page template honored the numerous spaces students needed to chronicle their deepening understanding a term's meaning. (NOTE: Students may not use every line, every box, or every facet on the template, but it's there if they need it.)
Buchko and her staff created a single vocabulary resource where students housed their academic vocabulary for all subjects. Using the same template, teachers photocopied it on different colors, with each color representing a different subject area (e.g., blue=math, pink=social studies, green=science, yellow=language arts).
The most important thing to remember regarding vocabulary notebooks is that the focus is NOT the template itself. It's not about having students fill out a worksheet so you can grade it. The greater purpose is that students have a place to log their growing understanding.
Access templates here: www.smekensedu...

[@DannaAMora-ww3dn]

This video was the best educational one that I have ever seen on UA-cam!! It is so different to the others in the field! Thanks!

[@SmekensEducation]

Thanks so much Danna!

[@arujbudhraja]

Thank You, Maam for such a Great Quality video!

[@atulverma91]

Thanks for these multiple impressive Templates... good research...:-)

[@SmekensEducation]

Glad that you can use these templates with your vocabulary instruction! For more on vocabulary, visit our blog category on Vocab--www.smekenseducation.com/Reading/Vocabulary-Author-s-Craft/#page-1

[@rorymoushey6883]

This was very helpful, thank you very much!

[@akshaysinghkarayat7590]

Mam u gave me the best idea to Customize my notebook📖

[@SmekensEducation]

Excellent, glad we could help : )!

[@drisstija7890]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing !

[@SmekensEducation]

Thank you for your kind comment! We're happy to share simple and effective strategies that help to build successful readers and writers. Visit our website for more video articles like this one: www.smekenseducation.com/Reading/Reader-s-Workshop-Management/#page-1

[@manisacuriosity4851]

Wow

[@rgb1215]

Thank you! Really useful!

[@SmekensEducation]

You are so welcome! We're glad you found this helpful. If you visit the article, you'll find downloadable templates for classroom usage.
www.smekenseducation.com/Maintain-Vocabulary-Notebooks0.html

[@SmekensEducation]

Thank you for your kind feedback! If you visit the article on our website, you'll find downloadable classroom resources to support instruction: www.smekenseducation.com/Maintain-Vocabulary-Notebooks0.html

[@Moonfan78]

You sound just like Amy Sedaris!

[@SmekensEducation]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@DannaAMora-ww3dn]

Where can I download the last template? Thanks

[@SmekensEducation]

Danna, If you visit this article on our website, you'll find the downloadable templates! Thanks for watching!www.smekenseducation.com/Maintain-Vocabulary-Notebooks0.html