In anticipation of her school's "official jump" to the Common Core, English teacher Jennifer Johnston of Rialto High, in Rialto, CA created a dramatic new word learning program using Vocabulary.com. She was hoping for measurable improvement. What she ended up with was a dramatic change in the way her students learn, relate to, and use new words. Meanwhile, 200 Rialto students mastered more than 30,000 new words in the program's first month alone.
Today, in the International Reading Association's online magazine Reading Today, Johnston explains how she made this happen. (The questions are ours; the answers are Johnston's. Read her full article here.)
What's wrong with traditional word learning?
In the past, students practiced vocabulary based on words pulled directly from texts that were being studied and all students were expected to learn the same words, at the same pace, in the same way. This method was clearly ineffective. Over the last eight years, the student mastery of vocabulary and reading comprehension has been declining as fewer students learn, retain, and use new vocabulary taught in the classroom.
Can one teacher make a difference?
With the increased focus on vocabulary development in Common Core, I needed a way to support student achievement and mastery of difficult and unknown words. This was not only a necessity in my regular classes but also in my Advanced Placement classes.
I spent the summer researching online programs that responded to student learning needs, adapted to progress, and provided a rigorous learning experience. Vocabulary.com offered everything I needed and more. I am able to track student progress, assign lists, custom build learning goals, and create class challenges.
How can Vocabulary.com help?
The most effective method for my students with the program is the class challenge aspect. The students enjoy competing against me in our 100 Words a Week Challenge. Part of the success of the challenge is they are competing against me, we have to complete the same requirement.…
Competition aside, my students love the flexibility of Vocabulary.com game. They can practice words from any subject they want at any time, complete an English assignment, and prep for a biology test all at once. They like being in control. They like that they can do it anywhere. One student rides the bus to and from school and she said this keeps her busy.
Does word learning on Vocabulary.com carry over into the way students read, write, speak, and think?
I can already see an increase in their engagement with new words. They are using the words they are learning, making reference to new words, and asking questions. They like feeling successful and this program does just that for them. It makes them successful.