What if we taught English vocabulary the same way we teach foreign languages? Popular language-learning programs teach vocabulary with visuals – meaningful pictures and other visual cues kids can easily relate to. Similar strategies can be very effective in the classroom when students are learning words and concepts that are new to them.
There are several flashcard packages available to help teach vocabulary using visuals. Vocabulary Cartoons from New Monic Books reinforces understanding and memorization by linking vocabulary words to memorable cartoons. Vocabulary Cartoons carries generic vocabulary programs for various grade levels, including cards with SAT and ACT test words, so they are appropriate for a variety of ages and grade levels.
While these catchy visual connections work for many students, one might wonder what to do when the words your student needs to learn aren’t on the cards, or when cost is a factor. Thankfully, these kind of flashcard sets aren’t the only way to learn vocabulary with a visual connection.
Some Ways to Help Students Learn Vocabulary, Visually:
1. Have students make their own flashcards by looking up vocabulary words online and finding pictures that show the definitions. Ask them to print the picture, glue it on a card, and write a silly sentence under the picture to help them remember the word. Then have them write the definition of the word on the back of the card. Students without internet access, and those who are more visual learners, can get creative and draw the pictures themselves!
2. Use these handmade flashcards to make a word wall, where new, and current, vocabulary words can be displayed for your student to see and read daily.
3. Teachers, and parents, might turn their students into vocabulary word detectives! Every day, change a few pictures on the Word Wall, then offer the student(s) who find the changes some sort of prize like, an extra point, a free homework ticket, extra play or TV time, etc.- whatever you use as a reward system. Every day they’ll rush in to see what’s changed; and they’ll be actively engaged with reviewing the words on a daily basis.
4. Use sign language. Provide your student(s) with a copy of the sign alphabet and help them learn to fingerspell a few vocabulary words for homework. In class, teachers might have students pair up and teach each other the words they learned. Not only will they learn to spell their words, they will gain a life skill in the process!