EDUC 3508 – Microteach Reflection

Vocabulary.com (Grade 5 ELA) - Taylor Fornwald and Tyler White

Our lesson plan includes a piece of the curriculum (Grade 5 ELA – vocabulary/prefixes and
suffixes) as well as teaching the class how to use a website when teaching. On vocabulary.com,
we created a list of words that would fit into the Grade 5 ELA curriculum
(https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/9168274). Students then complete the questions the website
asks of them to learn vocabulary. It uses different styles of questions (pick the word that best
matches the context of the question, click the definition, spell the word, etc.) to ensure the
student fully understands the definition.
Vocabulary.com provides students with the chance to enhance their vocabulary. It meets them at
their level so they can feel competent and grow at their own pace. It is much more engaging and
interactive than consulting a dictionary. It also allows teachers to easily assess their students’
progress.
The technology is very effective and I know this from my own experience. I used it while I was
in junior high and I was always excited to use the resource and felt like I was actively learning,
rather than hoping I would be able to comprehend the content like you would if you were to just
read a dictionary.
Our lesson went well. There were a few bumps in the road, as there always will be when you’re
learning to teach. We began by introducing the website, as well as the idea of prefixes and
suffixes, specifically “-ance”, “-ical”, “ob-”, and “ad-”. From there, we got each student to create
an account on vocabulary.com and find the vocabulary list we created. They then began the
mini-quiz. I felt presenting the lesson in person with our peers made it simpler to help them log
into the technology. Everyone seemed to understand the benefits you can gain from it and saw
how it can incorporate the curriculum.
I feel this is the most effective tool to teach vocabulary. I’m sure there are other websites that do
a similar thing, but it seems to be more effective than teaching vocabulary “the old-fashioned
way”.
I wouldn’t change anything. The presentation went well, we effectively taught our peers about
the benefits of using this resource, and I feel that if they were a grade 5 class, they would have
gained knowledge from their use of the website.
The login went smoothly and the students seemed very responsive to the website itself.
In advance, you will have to create a vocabulary.com account and create a list of vocabulary
words that you would like your students to learn. There are premade lists that you can use or you
can choose words that relate back to the curriculum.
We made it clear what the students should or shouldn’t do while on their computer. Mostly, it
will be important to monitor the student's technological use.