My students need more hands-on ways to build their vocabulary. Games like Bananagrams, Scrabble, and Boggle are great ways for students to learn while having fun!
Many students are getting formal English literacy instruction for the first time in 3rd grade, and at the end of the year I want my students to feel successful with their use of the English language in every way possible, whether they are writing, reading, speaking, or listening.
I teach a wide array of students at a Title I dual language school, some of whom are still acquiring the English language, while others are looking for English extensions.
I see three classes (a total of 60 students) throughout the day, and each group of students spends 90 minutes with me. Over half of my students speak Spanish as their first language.
In this particular dual language program, 3rd grade is the first year literacy instruction is presented solely in English. This program is dedicated to creating biliterate students, where children are immersed in the Spanish language starting in kindergarten (90% of the day is in Spanish) all the way up to fifth grade (50% of the day is in Spanish). Each year, students receive a little more English instruction and many students are bilingual by the time they leave elementary school.
My Project
My students need a more hands-on ways to build their vocabulary. Games like Bananagrams, Scrabble, and Boggle are great ways for students to learn while having fun! Games are a great way for students learn, especially when acquiring a language. These games will be put to perfect use during our literacy center time once a week. Literacy centers consist of various ways for students to use English and work on their reading/writing skills. Some of our other literacy center activities include recording voices while reading a passage to practice fluency or re-writing the ending to a book we read aloud and discussed in class.
My students are eager to learn and have shown great progress so far this year with their English literacy skills. They already enjoy our literacy center time, and I know these games will get them even more excited to build their vocabulary and use their English!
These games will help students in so many ways - tangible letter tiles will help students build words, and in turn get students using their brains in a more creative way to build those words.
I will be able to scaffold vocabulary activities for students using these games, which will be beneficial for every child in class. Making vocabulary and literacy more experiential will create more successful, engaged students.
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