The Power of Academic Vocabulary
word walls_ word maps_ vocabulary games graphic
Vocabulary is a critical component of our learning and behavior. Expanding our vocabulary can impact our understanding of the world around us, can impact how we see ourselves and how we see each other, and can impact how we work with each other.
 
Preparing all students for college, career, and life includes building complex executive functioning (EF) skills and social emotional learning (SEL). Academic vocabulary tools, such as word walls, word maps, and vocabulary games, are effective student-friendly resources that can easily be integrated into a classroom.
 
This newsletter includes a variety of handouts and technology tools that you can use to support academic vocabulary in the areas of executive functioning and social emotional learning in the coming school year.

Credits: The materials in this newsletter are taken from a presentation at the Just Read! Florida 2019 Summer Institute by Cat Raulerson, Dama Abshier, and David Davis. 

 https://sites.google.com/view/ef-sel-jr-2019
Self-Check Tools

These printable handouts can be used by a teacher or group of teachers to identify executive functioning skills and social emotional learning that need to be addressed in their classroom. The self-check tools are vocabulary complex and can be used to support an analysis of your students' skills and your class or school culture.


Executive functioning self-check tool screens shot

social emotional self-check tool screen shot
Supporting Vocabulary and Language Shifts

It's when new vocabulary becomes part of a student's daily language that understanding is demonstrated and behaviors change. The goal isn't just to learn new vocabulary words; the goal is to shift, or change, daily language. One way to do this is to blend executive functioning vocabulary and social emotional learning vocabulary with English language arts (ELA) activities on a regular basis. This handout includes vocabulary for ELA Middle School grades and EF and SEL vocabulary. You can find more information on ELA academic vocabulary in the ELA Florida Standards Implementation Guide. 

vocabulary and language shifts tool screen shot
Classroom Vocabulary Activities

Word walls, word maps, and vocabulary games are great ways to help students increase their vocabulary and understanding of executive functioning skills and social emotional learning. Each of these handouts include a reference to the representation principles of Universal Design for Learning. 

word walls document screen shot
word maps handout screen shot
word games handout screen shot
Vocabulary Tools

Below are some vocabulary tools that students can use to help build their understanding of new vocabulary during classroom instructional activities and while at home.

Microsoft Word Smart Look-up -  http://bit.ly/2Lw2c2F  - instructions on how to find the Smart Look-up feature in Word.

Google Dictionary (Chrome Extension) -  http://bit.ly/2Y78Cqz - a dictionary for the Chrome web browser.

Dictionary.com -  http://www.dictionary.com/ - an on-line dictionary.

dictionary.com screen shot
Dictionary.com

Vocabulary.com -  https://www.vocabulary.com/ - paste up to 100 pages of text and this tool will create a vocabulary list with definitions.

Vocabulary.com Dictionary -  https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/ - on-line dictionary with audio output so students can hear the word they are looking up.

kids.Wordsmyth -  https://kids.wordsmyth.net/we/ - a dictionary designed for young learners. Free and pay versions are available. 

Additional Resources

Interactive Word Walls Enliven Vocab Learning - A blog post on using word walls in middle school grades. The examples are science based, but the techniques can be used for any subject.

Word Walls: A Support for Literacy in Secondary School Classrooms - A printable handout on how to create word walls with classroom vocabulary activities and games. 

Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Functioning Skills - This website includes printable activity guides from infancy through adolescence. 

Executive Function 101 - T his booklet from the National Center for Learning Disabilities provides extensive information on executive functioning skills and skill development in the classroom.

Toolkit for Promoting Empathy - A toolkit for promoting empathy in schools. It can be downloaded in English, Spanish, French, or Korean.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) - Research, practice, and policy on social emotional learning.

students working in groups in a classroom


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Announcements

The Regional Fall AT-AEM-UDL Professional Learning Community meetings are scheduled for the following dates. Please put them on your calendar.

Region 1 - September 26, Thursday, Chipley FL
Region 2 - September 25, Wednesday, TBA
Region 3 - September 20, Friday, Melbourne Fl
Region 4 - October 11, Friday, Tampa FL
Region 5 - October 4, Friday, TBA

Additional events and conference information is available on the Technology & Learning Connections  events page. 

Visit the Technology & Learning Connections website for additional tools and resources to help prepare all students for college, career, and life. You can also view past editions of the AT & UDL Newsletter on our Resources page. 

This resource was funded through the Bureau of Exceptional Education  and Student Services with IDEA Part B dollars. The information and  resources are provided as a free awareness service to the educational  community and do not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties  involved . Please note that access to some resources may be blocked by individual school districts.