Words matter.
While reading a recent article in the news, an unfamiliar word was used by the author – animadversion . A quick search on a smart phone clarified the writer’s message in the article by helping to understand the meaning of the word animadversion. (Curious? Look it up!)
To be a journalist, it helps to develop a deep knowledge of and love for vocabulary and etymology. Writers use their language skills to more clearly and effectively convey meaning within their work. Political commentator George Will’s is known for his word smithing. He has been known to explain the current use of a word’s history, meaning, or significance in his writings, sometimes chastising the misuse of a word by others.
In a world of memes, text-talk and OMG, teachers have an awe-inspiring opportunity to build rich vocabulary into their lessons and to challenge all students to most effectively express themselves.
Idea: How do you engage your students’ curiosity by challenging them to find new ‘old’ words?
I love the concept of implementing a word of the day. I am constantly finding myself to identify and learn new words through conversation with school and in the workplace. If I am at a work, and I hear one of my colleagues say a word that I have never heard, I am typically quick to hop over to Dictionary.com to identify the meaning and context so I can continue to strengthen my vocabulary. A teacher implementing this in their curriculum, would only help their students grow.