Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What is a Vocabulary Parade?
- Possible Ways to Collect Words
- A Brief Read Aloud Bibliography
- Handout for Parents
- Handout for Students
- Look at Debra Frasier's site for more resources.
What is a Vocabulary Parade?
East Side’s Fourth Vocabulary Parade
May 6, 7, 8
An Activity Suggested by Karen Melnick
Based on an idea from Miss Alaineus, A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier
“A large and rich vocabulary is the hallmark of an educated individual.
Indeed, a large vocabulary
repertoire facilitates becoming an educated person to the extend that
vocabulary knowledge is
strongly related to reading proficiency in particular and school achievement
in general.” (Beck,
McKeown, Kucan. 2002) The National Institute for Literacy (2002)
states, “Readers cannot
understand what they are reading without knowing what most of the words
mean” (p. 36).
Our Vocabulary Parade will be a spring celebration of the many word
opportunities we have had to
increase vocabulary knowledge at East Side. Think WORD CHOICE.
Teachers work with their class throughout the year to introduce and develop
new vocabulary words.
In the primary grades these words may come from read alouds and teacher
talk. Intermediate grade
level words may come from student read text, read alouds and teacher talk.
Each classroom will develop an ongoing list of vocabulary words from
student’s encounters with
unfamiliar words in their independent and read aloud experiences. This list
will be used as a
resource as students select a word to represent in our parade.
References
Beck, I.L., McKeown M. G., Kucan L. (2002). Bringing Words to Life: Robust
Vocabulary Instruction, New York. The Guilford Press.
National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read. (NIH Publication
No. 00-
4754).
Appendix A in Bringing Words to Life lists a bibliography for Text Talk
books and their vocabulary
words for K-2.
Possible Ways to Collect Words
Wonderful Words bulletin board
Suggestion Box for students to contribute words to add to the class
collection
Word Finder job from Literature Circles
Class Word Jar (an idea from Donavan’s Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross)
Vocabulary Notebooks
A Brief Read Aloud Bibliography
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne
Donavan’s Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross
Frindle by Andrew Clements
The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne
A Little Pigeon Toad by Fred Gwynne
The Phantom Toll Booth by Norton Juster
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Fantasy Books About Words
Alphabet Soup by Kate Banks
The Ink Drinker by Eric Sanvoisin
The Word Eater by Mary Amato
Word Wizard by Cathryn Falwell
Handout for Parents
East Side’s Vocabulary Parade
Based on an idea from Miss Alaneus, A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier
Our Vocabulary Parade will be a spring celebration of the many word
opportunities we have had to
increase vocabulary knowledge in our classroom.
We have been reading and collecting wonderful words used by authors and
writers. The list is quite
lengthy and represents excellent learning. To prepare for our parade, each
child will be asked to
select a word from the list and prepare a costume at home to display that
word for our parade.
Costumes may be any creative interpretation of the word. If it is best
displayed and defined by more
than one person, you may work in teams of up to three people. Remember to
include your chosen
vocabulary word on the costume somewhere.
Attached you will find our class list. Spend some time talking about the
list and make a few word
choices with your child. Our class word sign up will begin on
______________________________.
Each student will be expected to turn in a 3x5” card by
_____________________ with the following
information:
1) their name
2) vocabulary word
3) a definition in their own language
4) a sentence describing their costume
Our class will be participating in the parade on
____________________________.
We’ll keep you posted with the details so you may come enjoy the celebration
of learning at East
Side.
Thank you for providing the vital link between school and home.
Handout for Students
East Side’s Vocabulary Parade Rules
The class vocabulary list has been posted in our room. You may choose a word
from the list. Once
you have made your selections, write your name beside that word. Your
costume can be any creative
interpretation of your word. If it is best displayed and defined by more
than one person, you may
work in teams of up to three people. Remember to include your chosen
vocabulary word on the
costume somewhere.
Each student must turn in a 3x5" card by _________________________
With the following information:
your name
vocabulary word
definition written in your own words
a sentence describing your costume
Happy Defining!
Look at Debra Frasier's site for more resources.
http://www.debrafrasier.com/pages/books/msa.html