Argues that the process of recording newly encountered vocabulary items in a typical language learning situation can be improved through a computerized system of vocabulary storage based on database management software that improves the discovery and recording of meaning, subsequent retrieval of items for productive use, and memory retention.…

This article argues in favor of a receptive vocabulary component in foreign language courses through consideration of: productive vs. receptive vocabulary knowledge; misconceptions in receptive vocabulary instruction; and classroom-tested approaches and activities for receptive vocabulary development. (CB)

This teaching example shows how to use students' own experiences to help them learn social studies terminology. The example must be told as a story spoken to the class. The teacher's responsibility is to guide and facilitate the students' presentations. (JDH)

Presents the findings of an experiment conducted to determine the efficacy of the suggestopedia method (learning through suggestion, relaxation, and concentration) in teaching English vocabulary to 90 Spanish-dominant third graders. Reports that suggestopedia was found to be more effective than a control method for teaching vocabulary. (DR)

Describes the structured overview, a chart that helps students associate known terms with new terms. Discusses a method of introducing the structured overview. The author then presents two exercises that reinforce learning of vocabulary and the relationship between key concepts: the scrambled overview and label-object matching. More advanced…

Extracts guidelines from research for incorporating vocabulary instruction into the everyday routines of the classroom. (EL)

Students can become competent spellers given a teacher with patience and energy capable of developing an awareness of the way the English writing system works; a good reason for accurate spelling; the willingness to attempt to spell independently; and a multistrategy approach using graphophonics, visual and meaning systems, self-corrective…

Presents a word identification exercise that can be used with students who have no prior knowledge about the teaching of reading. (FL)

Describes one teacher's systematic inquiry into the effectiveness of strategies to increase students' vocabularies. A research-type approach indicated that use of clarity statements and interchanges that encouraged connections to the students' own lives seemed more effective in helping students incorporate their understanding of concepts with…

Describes an exercise to help students break their dependency on the dictionary and to trust themselves to derive the meaning of unfamiliar words from the surrounding context. Students read a sentence containing an unfamiliar word, infer the meaning from the context, then design a new sentence using the word. (HTH)

Discusses (in question/answer format) criteria to use when evaluating language arts software. Also reviews four programs illustrating principles/ideas considered in these criteria. Programs include: "Story Maker" (grades 3 and above); "Suspect Sentences" (Grades 7-12); "M-ss-ng L-nks" (grades 2 and above); and…

Offers practical activities that make spelling drill more interesting and more applicable to vocabulary development. (FL)

Discusses the need to focus on fixed expressions in English and gives a summary analysis of the various types. Reviews 13 dictionaries and reference works to ascertain their coverage of fixed expressions and provides an annotated bibliography for assessing the utility of selected reference works for both teacher and learner. (EKN)

Examines the relationship between reading ability and spelling proficiency, assesses the predictability of English spelling, and suggests ways in which the teacher of reading can encourage spelling accuracy. (KS)