Good evening everybody and welcome to blog #5. Hope you had a good day. Just a week and a half left before school is over. I know every teacher is excited about that. But anyway, this evening we will be discussing teaching vocabulary. I'm elated to talk about this problem because its desperately needed in our school system today in literacy content areas. With that being said lets get started!!!!

        Teaching vocabulary to our youth is very essential to the development of reading literacy. I remember when I was in elementary school and we would start out with the word of the day. I thought that this is was a very interesting assignment. For me, this gave me the opportunity to expand my vocabulary and make me feel like I was smart lol...(Laughing out loud). However, my desire and personal motivation to broaden my vocabulary is not how every student perceives vocabulary. Conation focuses on the student's will and desire to learn in conjunction with their determination to achieve success in learning. Motivation plays a huge part in a childs' learning process. My first question to educators is, what are some ideas or methods that can be used in making vocabulary study appealing to students?

        Content-specific vocabulary refers to the vocabulary that is critical, yet specific, to a particular discipline or unit of study. These are the terms commonly targeted for instruction prior to a textbook chapter (P.169). In contrast to content-specific vocabulary, academic vocabulary encompasses a set of terms often found among expository texts and formal presentations or speeches, but which is not unique to any content or academic discipline. These terms are rarely found in narrative text or used in everyday conversation, but they are important for gaining full understanding of expository text (p. 169).

        The next topic I wanted to discuss is vocabulary and school failure. According to recorded data, this normally occurs with disadvantaged students, at risk-populations, and among poor readers. It is said that their is a mismatch between school expectations and students' achievement concerning this issue, focusing in on struggling readers. I would say that I agree with what they are saying (p. 172). It is true, despite compensatory educational programs designed to reduce the conceptual and language deficits of culturally disadvantaged and minority children. Children in these circumstances are often taught through the rote method exercises. Meaning they learn by completing vocabulary assignments that consists of extensive dictionary definitions of technical specialized terms.

        Most poor readers over use action words in their conversations. They use processes to facilitate information rather than memorizing an extensive written vocabulary. This prescriptive approach has been described by researchers as minimally effective, resulting in temporary retention of material, student disengagement, and little student understanding of text.

        In conclusion vocabulary is a much needed necessity in our public school system. Students' must feel motivated and inspired to want to improve their vocabulary and learn the meaning and how to use mature vocabulary to open their intellect along with developed communication skills.