Words that are Worth their Weight

One thing I love about teaching, is how you get to start fresh each August and revise the work of the year before.  This year, I took my old idea of an interactive word wall (credit to Janet Allen, of course!), and revised it to include the three tiers of vocabulary instruction.

Tier 1 Vocabulary
Tier 1 words are basic, common sight words.  Simple, single-meaning words like "good" or "dog" or "sad" or "sit." Dr. Seussy words that are critical vocabulary for younger students and emerging readers. For middle school students, however, Tier 1 words make for pretty lousy writing.  Thus, the Tier 1 words have become our "'Bad' Words." 

Tier 1 Vocabulary

Early in the year, we discuss what makes precise writing. As kids use "he" or "it" vaguely, I redirect them to be more specific about who or what they're writing or talking about. They "find a better word" and hang the "bad word" on the wall for future reference. From there, they love to listen for bad words and help keep each other (and me!) precise and clear.

Tier 2 Vocabulary
These words are part of the general academic language that opens doors for students.  I used to call them SAT words when I was their age.  Since the student population I teach isn't as obsessed with the SAT as we preppy little Catholic school students were, I now call them "Money Words" in my classroom.  These words are "rich," in that they are specific and enrich writing.  They're also "five-dollar words," and most importantly, they are the words the acquisition of which will provide my students with better, more lucrative opportunities. 

Tier 2 Vocabulary

These are words my students find in their reading throughout the year.  When they don't know the meaning of a word, they use context clues, roots, the dictionary and me to access the meaning of the word.  As they learn new, more precise, rich words, they write them on these sticky sentence strips and post them on our word wall.  Students enjoy the kinesthetic aspect of this routine, and they compete to see who can post the most Money Words.  Not only do they enjoy adding to the word wall, they also refer to it as they write to get ideas and inspiration to enliven their word choice.

Tier 3 Vocabulary
These are domain-specific words.  So, in biology "mitosis" and "nucleus," and in math "slope" and "algorithm."  These words aren't widely used and don't necessarily provide much capital beyond their field.  Tier 3 words are still important to each content area, however, for accessing, processing, understanding, discussing and reflecting on the content.

Tier 3 Vocabulary

As we learn literary terms, literacy skills, or discuss unfamiliar terminology of the study of English language arts, students write down the words and post them for later reference and review. 

Tier 3 used to be the main focus of ELA vocabulary instruction.  With the new Common Core Standards, however, has come vocabulary revolution.  The Common Core shifts in ELA and math are pushing instruction to more rigorous realms.  Where we used to teach domain-specific vocabulary nearly exclusively, we now teach students to mine complex texts for rich, multi-layered academic language.  The emphasis on the subtleties and the multi-faceted, organic nature of language pushes students beyond the rote memorization of words like "metaphor" and "synecdoche" to understanding the ways in which authors use words to play with language and make deep, real meaning. 

The shift from Tier 3 to Tier 2 is so much more than new vocabulary lists.  It's a move BEYOND vocabulary lists to deep analysis and acquisition of powerful words that can empower students.

Sports Poems II

The Big Game

The sweat crawling down my forehead

Yelling through the thick, moist air,

For that perfect pass that would change everything.

The intense moment:

I see the ball fly through the air,

The dull, orange grip touches my fingertips.

Taking nervous dribbles down the glistening court

Be ready for the lay up I think to myself,

Yet did I know,

A foul was running toward me,

Enraged like a bull.

The flashes of the crowd's cameras,

Blinding my wide, scared eyes,

Hands fly across my sweat-filled face,

Grabbing greedily for the ball

Whistles blow-

A silent pause in time

Foul! the referee shouts.

My time has come,

My two shots decide the game,

This is it.

The first shot is gold,

The game, tied?

Overtime isn't an option.

My last breath,

Before the last shot,

Silence fills the gym.

Here it goes...

Swish!

The crowd cheers wildly.

I did it!

No...

We did it.

-Daphne

Basketball

The bold light

Sweaty bodies

Grip of the ball

The sound of the net swoosh

The coach screaming out plays

The intensity of the player

Fire in my bones

The sweat on my forehead

Feeling like [we're] going to win

Nikes on my feet

Impatient to get in the game

this is more than a game

The feelings of win or lose still the same

This is my court

-Deron

http://www.beckermanphoto.com/basketball-silhouette-1-id-1969.html

Field of Memories

The new brown brick dust

That opens up to the fence,

The bright orange sun

That shines memories on the field

I will never forget.

And the cold wind

That whistles through the flat air.

The freshly popped popcorn with extra butter,

And the American Flag that watches

The players [wander] onto the field.

The sound of the horn to start the fans attention

To watch the game begin.

The two teams gather on the dirt,

Waiting for the clang of the bat

Making its way through the air,

As it sends the white leathered,

Red laced ball,

In the bright blue sky

To sing its song.

The earth roars as the game ends.

-Dylan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3697444161_69926b444d.jpg

Sports Poems

Game Day

Warm sunny Saturday afternoons

Digging my cletes into the fresh green grass

Bodies bolting back and forth across the field

The popping of the helmets colliding together

The shouting of joy coming from my coach

The screeching of the referee's whistle

The grip of a football in my hand

Bright beaming sunlight hitting my face

The sound of the crowd's victory cheer

The feeling of accomplishment

The feeling that I gave it my all on game day

-Lanier

http://www.nutrition-for-athletes.com/images/offensiveline-football.jpg

My Last Game

The cracking of the pads

On one another.

The yells and screams of the crowd,

A dirty football flying through the air.

The taste of an old mouthpiece.

The rough ball hitting my hand

And a muddy shoulder smashing into my ribs.

The feeling of a sweaty wristband on my arm

And the voices going through my head.

The game is over the cold feeling of Gatorade

Rushing through my body

Refills me with energy.

My family is waiting for me on the sideline.

The sweat dripping from my hair

Onto my face.

This is my last game.

-Derek

The Sound of A Bang

The sound of a bang

As he hit the ground

I hear somebody say That's how you play D

As I get up my teammates pat me on the back

Good job #51

As I line up

For the next play

I look at him and I see the fear

In his eyes

From getting popped

On the last play

I could tell he didn't

Want the ball again

And that just made me feel stronger.

As I creep up to [the] line

I hear [their] coach saying

Block #51

But

The couldn't block me

Because I'm magic.

When I'm playing football

It['s] not enough to get a tackle

I want to hear the sound of a

Bang!

-Bryant

It's Your Time to Shine

The smell of hairspray

In the air.

Using spray gold glitter

To stand out and shine

The taste of Vaseline on my teeth

Making me want to smile even more.

Always in front

Arms get weak as I base a climb

Popping the moves on point

With the girls

Under the bright lights.

Our routine is finished

Did we do good enough to win?

All on stage about 30 teams

sweaty and weak.

Then I hear first place goes to...

"Fairdale Bulldogs!"

Getting shiny gold medals

To call our own.

Cheerleading is something

That runs in my blood!

-Taylor

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3268822299_2c9df385ac.jpg