The Secrets of Wordsift: How to Teach Vocabulary and Academic Words (ELL Supports)

The video tutorial emphasizes the importance of teaching vocabulary across all subjects, not just in English classes. It introduces Wordsif.org, a tool for enhancing academic vocabulary through visualization and interactive activities. The tutorial guides viewers on using the website for lesson planning, teaching, and engaging students with vocabulary exercises. It also explores advanced features like word lists and text analysis, helping teachers choose meaningful words to teach. The video encourages teachers to integrate vocabulary instruction into their classrooms, using Wordsif.org as a valuable resource.

Why is teaching vocabulary considered crucial across all subjects?

• It helps students understand and comprehend grade-level texts.

• It is only important for English language learners.

• It is the sole responsibility of English teachers.

• It is not necessary for subjects like math and science.

What can you find in the 'About' section of Wordsif.org?

• A list of vocabulary words

• Background information and ways to use the website

• A tutorial on how to use the website

• A forum for teachers to discuss vocabulary teaching

What is the purpose of the tag cloud feature on Wordsif.org?

• To provide definitions for all words in a text

• To visualize the most common words in a text

• To display the least common words in a text

• To translate the text into different languages

How can students use the tag cloud to enhance their learning?

• By writing a story using the words

• By ignoring the words they already know

• By translating the words into another language

• By memorizing all the words in the cloud

What is the Academic Word List used for?

• To offer a list of the most common English words

• To provide a list of 570 academic words used across disciplines

• To list words specific to science subjects

• To categorize words by their difficulty level

Why might a teacher prefer the New General Service List?

• It includes the most complex words in English

• It is shorter and easier to memorize

• It is an updated version with common English words

• It focuses solely on scientific vocabulary

How can marking words by subject help teachers?

• It allows teachers to focus on words used in specific subjects

• It helps teachers avoid teaching difficult words

• It provides a list of words to avoid in lessons

• It categorizes words by their length