What is a word map?A word map is a visual organizer that promotes vocabulary development. Using a graphic organizer, students think about terms or concepts in several ways. Most word map organizers engage students in developing a definition, synonyms, antonyms, and a picture for a given vocabulary word or concept. Enhancing students' vocabulary is important to developing their reading comprehension (Reading Rockets, 2015). Word Maps are useful when helping the student better comprehend the vocabulary within the specific lesson. "A word map is a sequentially structured visual model that meets all necessary requirements of existing models and adds an additional component—student interaction (Hughes, 2015)."
Why are word maps helpful in vocabulary instruction?
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This video shows a great example of a word map being completed
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Step by Step: How to use word maps?
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Differentiated instructionFor second language learners, students of varying reading skill, students with learning disabilities, and younger learners
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Word Maps in Content Subjects
Literacy -
In class, the students are working with the vocabulary word, state. The students will fill out a vocabulary map to help them develop the concept within their memory. Students work individually or with a classmate to complete their word map. |
Math -
The class is working with the word, triangle. The students are having a hard time understanding that a triangle is different from a square. The teacher then decides to complete a word map with the students to aid in their comprehension of this vocabulary word. |
Science -
Students are looking at different ecosystems. The students come across the word tundra. They complete a word map to help them understand this vocabulary word. Word maps enhance a students vocabulary learning environment and create connections between text and meaning. |
Word Map in the Classroom
Resources
Caramagno, S. (2012). Vocabulary Word Map Lesson. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipqmdH-LxUQ
Hughes, B. (2015). Internalization of Vocabulary Through the Use of a Word Map - ReadWriteThink. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/internalization-vocabulary-through-word-307.html
Image Links are accessed by clicking on the picture itself.
ReadingQuest Strategies | Vocabulary Word Map. (2012). Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readingquest.org/strat/wordmap.html
ThomasteamMom. (2012). Word Maps. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ_vsyiaVEE
Reading Rockets. (2015). Word Maps. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/word_maps
Hughes, B. (2015). Internalization of Vocabulary Through the Use of a Word Map - ReadWriteThink. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/internalization-vocabulary-through-word-307.html
Image Links are accessed by clicking on the picture itself.
ReadingQuest Strategies | Vocabulary Word Map. (2012). Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readingquest.org/strat/wordmap.html
ThomasteamMom. (2012). Word Maps. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ_vsyiaVEE
Reading Rockets. (2015). Word Maps. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/word_maps