Most vocabulary quizzes test lower level learning, usually recall
but occasionally test application. Those quizzes are fine if all you
expect students to ever do is blacken bubbles on test forms.
However, if you want students to be able demonstrate English vocabulary
words in use in their writing, you need to use writing to assess
student progress. You do that by using writing prompts.
Note: Writing prompts should be the last of the activities
for teaching vocabulary that you use in a given week. You will find
other less test-like activities listed at the
start of this thread.
Vocabulary writing prompts
I find these kinds of activities for teaching vocabulary work best
as timed, weekly in-class writing tasks. Start with 5-minute sessions
and see how much students accomplish. You can gradually increase
the length of the writing sessions as students become familiar with
the procedures and comfortable writing.
To show you how to prepare a writing prompt-vocabulary quiz, I
have created three lists of 10 words said to appear regularly
on the SATs. Then I wrote a prompt for each one. You'll find the
three prompts at the bottom of this page
along with a word processor so you can test them yourself.
Notice that I included one prompt that asks students to use their
imaginations. I don't often have students write fiction, but in
this situation where my focus is on vocabulary rather than writing,
I don't feel constrained to stick strictly to expository writing.
Assessing & grading responses
I suggest you treat writing prompt alternatives to vocabulary quizzes
as formative assessments:
give points for completing the assignment as directed.
Using a set of words in a paragraph that's all about one topic
is challenging for many students. For that reason, your assessment
should focus primarily on three vocabulary elements:
-
The required number of words.
-
Correct spelling of those words.
-
Correct use of those words.
I suggest you develop some techniques to simplify grading. For
example,
-
Have students underline the week's vocabulary words
they use.
-
Put a check above words the student spelled and used
correctly.
-
Put a check followed by a minus sign above words the
student used incorrectly.
-
Put a check followed by a plus sign above words very
precisely in the context.
-
Circle vocabulary words the student misspelled.
You don't need to respond to the writing from every student on
every vocabulary writing prompt. If you have 30 students, you might
respond to six each week.
Do your best to give only honest, positive feedback on the
traditional writing aspects of the work. That means you can
say things like:
Student self-assessment
Many students would benefit from having some kind of checklist
to use in determining whether they completed their "vocabulary quizzes"
correctly.
If possible, have students participate in developing the checklist.
That gives them ownership and assures they understand what they
are to do.
Directions for vocabulary quizzes
Write a paragraph response to the writing prompt. Use at least
five of the listed vocabulary words in some form in your
response. (If the word is a noun, you may use its verb or adjective
form, for example). Use vocabulary from previous week's word lists
too when appropriate.
