Marzano's 6 Steps of Vocabulary Instruction

I love words.  Discovering new words, using old words in new ways, and, as a teacher, helping students learn content vocabulary.  But how?  What are the most effective ways to help students learn and apply content vocabulary terms?  It may shock all the middle school teachers I had growing up to learn that the best way is NOT to give out weekly vocabulary lists on Mondays for vocabulary/spelling tests on Fridays.  This approach both does not install long term retention of the terms, it also rarely instills a love of words or an ability to apply them beyond that week's test.

So, if rote memorization of weekly vocabulary lists isn't the answer, what is?  Fortunately, Dr. Marzano did all the research for us and created his 6 Steps of Vocabulary Instruction!

1. Provide a description, explanation or example of the term
2. Have students re-state the description, explanation or example in their own words
3. Have students produce a picture, pictograph, some other non-linguistic representation or act out the term
   
4. Extend and refine your students' understanding of the term by engaging in activities that help them add to their knowledge of terms in vocabulary notebooks
   
5. Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with one another
   
6. Play games that use the words and definitions 

I discovered these steps a few years ago and they made so much sense, I literally began using them the next day.  Since then, my students have consistently scored in the 90's on vocabulary quizzes whereas before they averaged in the upper 70's, and in talking to former students in the next year, they could usually remember almost all the terms, and are excited to show me!

Over the next month or so, I will be posting tips, tricks and resources for each of the 6 steps.  In the meantime, check out the vocabulary resources I have in my TpT store.

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