Vocabulary Websites for Students
edHelper.com
http://www.edhelper.com
This site has more than just vocabulary. Check out the Table of Contents and click on “Vocabulary.” In addition to spelling and vocabulary lessons, you will find many ready-to-implement activities about Greek and Latin roots that students will enjoy.
Explore English Words Derived from Latin-Greek Origins
http://www.wordexplorations.com
Students will enjoy “Words for Our Modern Age: Especially English Words from Greek and Latin Sources.
Learning Vocabulary Fun!
http://www.vocabulary.co.il
There is something here for all ages and skill levels. Students can play the match game and Hangman, or do crossword puzzles, word searches, and jumbles. All of the activities are for one player.
The Lex Files
http://www.lexfiles.info
Students will enjoy exploring this site of Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes, and root words. It includes lists of quotations, legal terms, medical words, prescription terms, religious expressions, and various abbreviations from Latin and Greek.
Surfing the Net with Kids
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games
This site contains free kids’ games listed by type (e.g., crossword, jigsaw), topic (e.g., science, geography), or theme (e.g., sports, dress-up, holidays). It also has an easy-to-use search tool.
Vocabulary University
http://www.vocabulary.com
This site is full of puzzles and other activities based on Greek and Latin roots. The puzzles change regularly, so students can visit the site frequently without getting bored.
Word Central
http://www.wordcentral.com
Maintained by Merriam-Webster, this site has plenty of activities and information for students, as well as resources (including lesson plans) for teachers. You can even build your own dictionary.
Word Games and Puzzles
http://mindfun.com
Calls itself the “Web’s best spot for online trivia games, word puzzles, and quizzes!” Students will find word scrambles, trivia, webs, crossword puzzles—even Boggle.
Websites for Word Roots/Word Lists
Building Vocabulary
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/tips/Tip0023.html
Sponsored by “Journey North,” this site has quick and easy classroom vocabulary activities.
Lists of Latin and Greek Roots
http://www.awrsd.org/oak/Library/greek_and_latin_root_words.htm
http://factmonster.com/ipka/A0907017.html
http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/506.htm
Most Frequently Used Words Lists
http://esldesk.com/esl-quizzes/frequently-used-english-words/words.htm
This useful site will take you, in increments of 300, to the 1,000 most frequently used words in the English language.
Word Roots and Prefixes
http://www.virtualsalt.com/roots.htm
This site has lists of roots and words that come from them.
Websites to Make Your Own Word Games
Discovery School’s Word Search Puzzlemaker
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp
This word-search generator gives options for letter use and word type.
FunBrain Word Turtle
http://www.funbrain.com/detect
You or your students can give “FunBrain” a list of words that it will hide in a puzzle. Students can choose skill level and play alone or with a friend. Students can also play ready-made puzzles based on some favorite children’s literature.
Instant Online Crossword Puzzlemaker
http://www.varietygames.com/CW
Make your own crossword puzzle in a flash and then print for your students to enjoy. You can make the puzzles simple or complicated, so this site is good for teachers working at all levels.
Superkids Word Search Puzzle
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/search
Make your own printable hidden word puzzles using the SuperKids Word Search Puzzle Creator. (Only available for PCs.)
Word Search
http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch
You can use the “generator” to create your own word jumbles and puzzles.
Dictionaries and Reference Websites
AllWords.com
http://www.allwords.com
This site has an online dictionary that does a multilingual search, which is very useful for students who are learning English as a second language, “Links for word lovers” will take you to all kinds of resources for information (dictionaries, thesaurus, etymologies) and word play (puns, rhymes, songs, quotations).
AskOxford.com
http://www.askoxford.com
Here is a free online dictionary from the makers of the famous Oxford English Dictionary. The site includes word games and other support materials for spelling, grammar, etymology, and foreign phrases, plus an “Ask the Experts” link where you can find answers to frequently-asked language questions.
A.Word.A.Day
http://www.wordsmith.org/awad
Have a new word come straight into your email every day! This site also provides a vocabulary word, its definition, pronunciation information with audio clip, etymology, usage example, and quotation.
The Big List
http://www.wordorigins.org
This site explains the origin of more than 400 familiar words and phrases, selected because they are “interesting or because some bit of folklore, sometimes true and sometimes false, is associated with the origin.” Dazzle students with your own knowledge, or let them explore for themselves.
Merriam-Webster Online
http://www.m-w.com
This site has an extensive and easy-to-use online dictionary and thesaurus that even provides audio pronunciations. Students will enjoy free word games and can sign up for Word of the Day.
One Look Dictionary Search
http://www.onelook.com
Type in a word and let this site look it up in several dictionaries! It also has a “Reverse Dictionary.” Type in a description of the concept and it finds words and phrases that match it.
Online Etymology Dictionary
http://www.wordexplorations.com
Type in any word and this dictionary will tell you its history.
Thesaurus.com
http://thesaurus.reference.com
Type in a word and quickly find synonyms and antonyms for it. This site also has a dictionary , an encyclopedia, and a word of the day in English and Spanish.
Lesson Plans
Education World
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson328.shtml
Word wall activities
LD Resource Center for Math, Science, and Reading
http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/vocabactivities.asp
Although prepared for students with learning disabilities, these activities will benefit general education students as well.
Ohio Resource Center for Math, Science, and Reading
http://ohiorc.org/for/ela/Default.aspx
This address takes you to the English/Language Arts section where you can find hundreds of vocabulary lessons suitable for students of all ages.
Read*Write*Think
http://readwritethink.org
This site, cosponsored by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, contains lesson plans spanning all aspects of the language arts and all grade levels as well. To find vocabulary plans, select “Learning about Language” and then “Vocabulary.” You can also narrow your search by selecting a grade-level band.
Further Professional Reading Websites and Online Articles
Elaboration Technique
http://www.ldonline.org/article/5759
This site describes a way to support vocabulary learning among students with learning disabilities.
everythingESL.net
http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/elementary_sites_ells_716938php
This site provides links to dozens of sites (identified according to grade level) with activities that English language learners will enjoy and benefit from.
A Focus on Vocabulary
http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm
From Pacific Resources for Education and Learning and written by Lehr, Osborn, and Hiebert, this document provides an excellent overview of vocabulary research with in-depth information in a reader-friendly format. This downloadable booklet (44 pages) from the Research-Based Practices in Early Reading series could be used for additional professional development or even shared with parents.
A Little Latin…and a Lot of English
http://ohiorc.org/adlit/ip_content .aspx?recID=159&parentID=158
This article, written by Newton and Newton and available in an online journal sponsored by the Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading, offers guidelines and resources for teaching the “classic vocabulary” approach and are woven through a happy school memory of “Roots Day.”
Making and Writing Words
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=words/index.html
Tim Rasinski’s popular word-study activity is available at Reading Online, an online journal sponsored by the International Reading Association. You will find detailed planning instructions, classroom examples, blackline masters, and a discussion forum where you can share tips with other teachers.
Reading First—Vocabulary
http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1vocab.html
Sections of this report include “Vocabulary Instruction,” “Types of Vocabulary,” “Direct and Indirect Learning,” (which includes vocabulary learning), and “An Example of Classroom Instruction.”
Reading—Vocabulary
http://www.literacymatters.org/content/readandwrite/vocab.htm
This site includes links to lesson plans for content vocabulary, “tools” for teaching vocabulary, strategy descriptions, and general vocabulary activities.
Vocabulary Acquisition: Synthesis of the Research
http://idea.uoregon.edu~ncite/documents.html
Baker, Simmons, and Kameenui offer a research-based analysis of the diversity of word learning styles. The document, funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, can be found at the National Center to Improve the Tools of Educators website. Look for it under “Technical Reports of Reading Research Syntheses.”
Vocabulary Learning Online
http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/lit_index.asp?HREF=webwatch/vocabulary/index.html
If you are interested in more ideas about how students can use the Web for vocabulary growth, read Karen Bromley’s article in Reading Online.
Visualizing Vocabulary
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/quarterly/Q2002no3/simmons.html
This article comes from the National Writing Project website. It describes several activities that foster word learning and practice through illustrations.
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