Dragging a chair to my side cupboards and stepping onto my counter top, I hoped the principal wouldn’t walk in. The lesson planned was complete, but the class period was not – so I took a gamble on filling the time with a vocabulary review, just not a traditional one. We can agree, I’m sure, that all the language and vocabulary of Language Arts/English is important and allows us to communicate about author’s techniques, reading and writing strategies, literary devices and structures, and so on… however, the sheer quantity of vocabulary is too much to post on my (or anyone’s!) Word Wall simultaneously. So I change the words based on the unit focus and the standards we are emphasizing. As part of my school’s professional development we were learning techniques for Interactive Word Walls, so I had started using push pins instead of staples to place hand-made word cards on my wall.
This day, instead of my 8th graders sinking into restless chatter, all eyes were on me as I energetically yanked off one pin after another, issuing the challenges, “Who owns this? Who knows this? Who can show what you know?” while ready to throw a word card down on a desk. And as the classroom of silence and non-participation threatened to swallow me, suddenly a quiet masculine voice said, “Hey man, I know that one – remember…” Then, “No, I’m gonna get that one…” And suddenly competitive spirit kicked in – and perhaps I’d hit some words that were more familiar and comfortable.
Within a short moment even previously unclaimed words were taken by pairs and trios to work together to show what they know. With freedom to act it out, dance it out (we were an Arts Integration school), talk it through, or connect it, the words gained meaning. And those few focused chats offered them a deeper vocabulary understanding… while teaching me the reminder to deep process meaning with game-like activities and by revisiting crucial concepts.
It was good they were all engaged for those few moments because I was probably not exactly graceful getting down off the counter!
