Chapter 7: Teaching Vocabulary

This chapter focuses on teaching vocabulary throughout the three phases of PAR. I enjoyed the fact that this chapter focused on building vocabulary in more than just the preparation phase. The importance of learning vocabulary in the preparation phase is often discussed amongst educators but we are forgetting that vocabulary needs to continually be stressed throughout the lesson to assure student success.  I particularly liked learning about the strategies that can be implemented in the reflection phase. I essentially believed that the implementation of vocabulary should occur earlier on in the lesson but after reading the reflection strategies I changed my perspective. Although vocabulary should be introduced early, it is just as important to review it after the reading has taken place. I believe strategies that focus on helping students connect keywords from the reading, such as Postgraphic Organizers and Categorization, will be extremely effective and help students correct misconceptions and better understand the text as a whole.

I really enjoyed the TOAST strategy which works as a vocabulary study system in the reflection phase of learning. The T stands for test which involves students self-testing themselves to determine which vocabulary words they need clarified. The O stands for organize which includes students categorizing the words depending on similarities. The A stands for anchor which involves students using a keyword method (relating a picture and a caption to a vocabulary term) in order to strengthen connections and develop understanding. The S stands for say and students will work with a partner to review the words during this step. The final step, T, stands for test and it requires students to self-assess in order to determine how much they have learned from this strategy. I enjoyed this strategy because I believe it offers students multiple opportunities to develop their understanding of words that they still had questions about even after the reading.