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VOCABULARY AND SPELLING
CONTRACTS
Give the students some
choices for their vocabulary or spelling assignments. Create a
list of possible assignments the students can do to practice
their words. Each assignment choice is then assigned a point
value depending on the difficulty, and students are required to
acquire a certain amount of points. Specify how many points are
required for an A, how many for a B, and so on.
Below are some possible
assignment choices.
 | Use graph paper to
create a word search puzzle using all of the words from
the list. Be sure to add an answer key.
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| Use graph paper to
create a crossword puzzle using all of the words from the
list. Be sure to add an answer key.
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| Create a rebus
puzzle using all of the words. Be sure to add an answer
key.
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| Make a word
scramble puzzle using all of the words. Be sure to add an
answer key.
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| Complete someone
else's word search puzzle, crossword puzzle, word
scramble puzzle, or rebus puzzle.
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| Write a paragraph
using at least half of the words from the list. Underline
each word used from the list.
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| Create a
classification chart showing how the words from the list
can be divided into groups. Possible groupings include
-ing endings, words with prefixes, science related words,
etc.
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| Classify the words
according to their parts of speech.
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| Write the phonetic
pronunciation of each word. Use a dictionary for help.
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| Write the
etymology, or origin, of each word. Use a dictionary for
help.
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| Use a dictionary
to find the syllable divisions for each word.
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| With a friend,
write a song or rap that incorporates all of the words.
Perform the song or rap in front of the class.
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| Make a set of
flash cards for the words. Write the word on the front
and the definition on the back.
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| Make a set of
picture flash cards for the words. Write the word on the
front and draw a picture to illustrate the word on the
back.
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| One exercise I use in my 9th grade English class to
have students pick any of our vocab words and illustrate it. For instance,
for the word
"swoon," one student drew a girl with her hand against her
forehead
with a caption that said, "Oh man, he's so fine!" They really
enjoy doing
this exercise.
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Submitted by Kim -- a teacher in Arizona
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| Write a synonym
for each word.
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| Write an antonym
for each word.
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| Create a mnemonic
device for each word. For example, there is a rat in separate.
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| Find as many words
as you can in print. Bring the printed items to class.
Dictionaries, glossaries, and vocabulary books do not
count. The number of points received depends on the
number of words found.
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| Something
that I've found to be a tremendous success is after an explanation is
given (or acted out) of vocabulary before a lesson, we then read the
chapter. I have the words listed on tagboard cards. At the end of the day
a student who can recall the meaning, gets to have the word, put their
name on the card and then hang the card anywhere in the school. The words
wind up in the principal's office, cafeteria, other classrooms, windows,
ceilings and walls. The students really want the vocabulary words and are
proud to have their word hanging in various places. Other students walking
in the halls want to know what the words mean.
| Submitted
by Lana/AZ/5
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| Note
from Kim: This idea could be used alone, or contract points could be
awarded for each word the student got to hang up in the
school. |
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| I have my kids uses their spelling words while we play Scrabble. The
spelling list, plus the ones they misspelled the week before, are the only
words any of us can use. If a student can can spell the words without
help referring back to the list, he/she gets an extra 25 points.
| Submitted by Ms. Haslam |
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