Welcome to Nevada High School Book Club: Vocabulary Instruction
Let’s Learn Together
Meet the Teacher
Elizabeth O'Connor is in her fourth year of teaching special education and Nevada High School. Book Club was developed 3 years ago in an effort to get kids excited about reading. Last year it became apparent that students were missing some key vocabulary words in their repertoire. This year vocabulary instruction was introduced in tandem with book club. Twenty-six out of 27 students are actively participating in vocabulary instruction and experiencing a range of successes.
Classroom Procedures
Last year, Teir 2 Words were collected that students were missing on their reading probes.
Every 2 weeks, students vote for a new vocabulary word out of 3 possibilities. Words so far: navigate, access, persuade, assume, achieve, fierce, visible, numerous, and minimal.
First (Monday), The definition of the word goes up on the board (and then on the wall & remains there), and the class goes over what the word means. Two new sentences per day are gone over as a class, and students have the opportunity to add their own sentences to the board.
Next on Monday, we review the previous week’s word with a sentence. Next for the new word, they write both the definition and a sentence using the new word.
On Tuesday, students get their sheets back they did on Monday with feedback. They then turn their sheets over and write another sentence using the vocabulary word. These sheets are individually checked as they are turned in and handed back, until they are corrected.
On Wednesday, students have the opportunity to use their vocabulary word when writing the Book Club presentation and receive feedback.
On Thursday, feedback should be accepts/fixed and students present their book club with their vocabulary word used correctly in a relevant sentences.
On Friday, students do reading probes.
The following week, students are asked to use the new vocabulary word when reporting to me about their book (daily). Book club is still prepared for on Wednesday and then presented on Thursday.
Questions about our upcoming events?
Results
This graph is from a student that has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in the area of vocab. You can see that when vocabulary instruction was relatively new, the student was not experiencing success. The last four data points in December show that he is 100% proficient in the vocabulary that he is learning.
Student Example
Theodore Taylor
Timothy of the Cay
In the book, Timothy is navigating through a fierce storm. He jumped off his boat to save someone who fell off in the storm. He held on to her and said, “hang on hang on” (124). He floated to shore still holding her, but she was dead. Later, Timothy was trying join a group of sailors, but it was visible that he was old. He had to persuade them to give him access to join. The man said to Timothy, “he’ll tell you to go home and sit in your rocker” (130). Timothy sold his boat. Timothy is much older now, and he has grey hair. He does not know his age and he assumes he is sixty.
What if you were overboard the a storm would you try and save the person?
Next Week...
Students will choose from the following words:
incessant
substantial
progressed
“Books give us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are"
Mason Cooley
