To Kill a Mockingbird is an incredibly vocabulary-heavy novel, especially for freshmen, so when I taught it last year and tried to use traditional vocabulary lists, I was frustrated with not only the scores on any vocabulary checks I would give, but also the lack of buy-in. Students didn’t care about the terms I was handing them because they had no connection to them. I remember using the Alphaboxes strategy early in my career, so I resurrected my old worksheet to see if it might increase vocabulary retention this year. I’m really pleased with the results so far, so I thought it was time to share.
Alphaboxes is a simple table with one letter in each box. Students use the chart while they are reading to record unknown vocabulary terms. Each box should be filled with a term that begins with the letter in the box. You can have students complete any activity within the box you want, but I usually have them define the word and use it in a sentence. (You can get a copy of the worksheet for free when you subscribe to my email newsletter. Once you subscribe, the password to be Free Resource Library will come straight to your inbox. Download and get started!)
After students complete their Alphaboxes, I have them meet in groups of 3-4 to discuss and compare like terms. Students then create their own vocabulary lists of the most commonly reoccurring terms. I use these lists to create a master vocabulary set. Since I share a classroom, I tend to do a lot of things digitally, so I’ll often make the students a Quizlet set to interact with the terms further before giving a quiz, but a word wall would be a great option as well. I also use them often while reading, pointing out whenever we come across one in the wild.
The great thing about Alphaboxes is that it isn’t limited to ELA. This strategy can be used in any content area and with any text. It is especially helpful in sorting dense material. Students find the challenge of filling each box engaging and they don’t even realize they are learning at the same time.
You can download the Alphaboxes worksheet for free if you’re a subscriber of my newsletter. Once you subscribe, you’ll receive the password to my Free Resource Library that contains many helpful resources to use in your classroom. (The digital version is there, too, in case that better suits your needs!) Subscribe today to get yours!
I hope this is a strategy that you will try in your own classroom. Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram and let me know what you think!
Happy teaching!
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