TRY THIS TOMORROW: QUICKWRITES TO SUPPORT VOCABULARY
Part of a Series on Using Quickwrites in the 6-12 Literacy Classroom
When intentionally designed, quickwrites give students the opportunity to interact with vocabulary in authentic and meaningful ways. Instead of isolated word lists or memorization, students engage with language in context, deepening their understanding and making new words their own.
Quickwrites support vocabulary by:
- Directly teaching the meaning and pronunciation of words tied to current reading or content
- Providing authentic opportunities to use vocabulary in context, helping students transfer words into their own reading and writing
- Modeling and reinforcing word-learning strategies, including context clues, word parts, and pronunciation patterns
- Embedding instruction on morphology (prefixes, roots, suffixes) within meaningful reading and writing experiences
In Practice:
Let’s look at an example.
You are going to be engaging with the NYTimes Article on preparing for a big moment. This piece relies on an understanding of the word ritual. This might be a word students have heard before but may not have fully grasped. The excerpt for the quickwrite could be:
| How Do You Prepare for a Big Moment?
The big moment is here: You’re about to step onto the mat for a winner-take-all gymnastics competition, face a daunting math test, walk onstage for your big audition for the school talent show, sit down for a nerve-racking job interview or present your work before a panel of judges at a science fair. How do you warm up for this moment? Do you have any rituals — doing breathing exercises, eating a snack, listening to music or reciting affirmations — to calm your nerves, conquer your fears and psych yourself up? How about blowing bubbles, tucking a good-luck charm near your heart or tying a tie just right? |
Sample Invitations to Respond:
- Write about whatever comes to mind after reading the text.
- Write about a ritual you have before something important. What do you do? Why do you think it helps?
- Write about one of the rituals from the text. When you could imagine this ritual being helpful and why?
- Describe someone else’s ritual you’ve observed. How does it help them prepare?
This quickwrite supports the introduction of vocabulary by:
- Repeated exposure to the word “ritual”.
- Context clue discussion of the author providing several examples of different rituals to spark understanding.
- Opportunity for peer discussion to transfer the word “rituals” to multiple contexts.
- Invitations to respond that offer opportunities for students to use the word “rituals” in their own writing.
Vocabulary learning sticks when students see, hear, say, and write new words in meaningful ways. Quickwrites offer a simple yet effective routine to build that depth of understanding.