Learning new vocabulary is an important part of reading any book. Often, new words pertaining to an unfamiliar context need to be mastered before a student can understand what is happening in a story. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry has many words that are particular and relevant to its setting in the rural South.
Taylor uses many vivid verbs, unique adjectives, and colloquialisms to enhance her writing. How do the words create a better visual in your mind? How does the vocabulary make the writing more authentic?
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Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by creating visualizations.
Engage students by introducing interactive vocabulary games like Vocabulary Bingo or Charades. These activities make word practice fun and help students remember definitions through movement and competition. Games boost enthusiasm and encourage repeated exposure to new words.
Read passages aloud and pause when encountering a challenging word. Think aloud about clues in the surrounding text that hint at the word’s meaning. Modeling this process helps students develop strategies for decoding unfamiliar vocabulary independently.
Have each student maintain a vocabulary journal where they record new words, definitions, example sentences, and illustrations. Encourage regular entries to promote ownership and personalized learning. Review journals weekly to reinforce retention.
Ask students to relate each new word to their own experiences or community. Making personal connections increases understanding and recall. For example, invite students to share times they felt ‘skittish’ or saw something ‘emaciated’ outside of class.
End lessons with quick exit tickets where students use a new word in a sentence or draw a related picture. This immediate check-in lets you gauge comprehension and identify words that need further review.
Important vocabulary words in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry include sharecropper, maverick, lynch, persnickety, languidly, gleaned, wizened, shun, saunter, traipsing, reckon, wheedle, akimbo, emaciated, malevolently, skittish, clabber, chiffonier, oblivious, meticulously, and chain gang.
To teach vocabulary visually, have students choose vocabulary words, find their definitions, write sentences using each word, and illustrate the meaning through drawings or images. Tools like Photos for Class can help students find appropriate visuals to represent each word.
Understanding vocabulary helps students grasp the context, themes, and setting of the story, making it easier to comprehend the plot and connect with the characters in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
A visual vocabulary board is an activity where students pick vocabulary words, define them, use them in sentences, and create or find images to illustrate their meanings. It's especially helpful in literature lessons for deepening word understanding and engagement.
Quick activities include matching words to definitions, using words in original sentences, drawing or finding images that represent each word, and creating vocabulary boards. These approaches make learning new words engaging and effective.