What is a vocabulary word map

What is a Word Web? At first glance, you might think that a vocabulary word web or word map is a simple way for students to record the definition and related words to a specific focus word. Although this thought would be correct, I’m here to tell you that a word map/web used correctly can be so much more than that. It’s not necessarily the vocabulary themed graphic organizer itself that is going to significantly expand students’ knowledge of the focus word, it’s more of HOW you use the word web in your classroom that matters! A word web/word map is the first turn on the cross country road trip that ends with students’ deep knowledge of the focus word.

💌 Before we get down and dirty with all things word webs, I want to share about a unique opportunity to join our Word Lovers Community! Whether you are brand new to teaching vocabulary, or a veteran looking to spice up your word learning activities, you have come to the right place! Join for exclusive vocabulary teaching tips and activity ideas sent directly to your inbox. Here is a preview of the types of resources I share. Share your email below to hop on board the Word Lovers Train! 

Out With the Old, In With the New

Did you know that choosing an arbitrary word list and having students look up the definition doesn’t actually increase their vocabulary acquisition? Even when they write a connected sentence and memorize it. It won’t take long to figure out that these exercises don’t increase students’ reading, writing and conversational language. 

But, that’s how I was taught new vocabulary words in school, weren’t you? That being said, I remember ZERO words that were on those arbitrary word lists. If anything, I remember getting frustrated trying to memorize the definitions of words I had never seen before. Plus, I would probably never use them in conversation. These weren’t even words from books we were reading as a class. They were just copied out of a textbook that my teacher was told she had to use in her classroom. We call this the “assign, define and test” strategy.

So, if that doesn’t work, what does? In the words of my favorite vocabulary guru Janet Allen, “Knowing what didn’t work was easy. Finding and reading the research to word knowledge was also not very difficult. Knowing how to implement that research in effective, interesting ways turned out to be the hard part.” 

The HOW is where most teachers I know get stuck. If the only strategy you know how to implement in your classroom isn’t an effective one, where can you find one that is? Don’t worry my friends, I’ve got you every step of the way.

Much More Than a Worksheet

Before we get too far down the road of non-“assign, define and test” vocabulary teaching strategies, I want to make something crystal clear. I create and share a LOT of vocabulary worksheets. To be exact, almost every post on this blog points you to a resource to take your vocabulary teaching to the next level. And 75% of those resources are worksheets. 

One would think this worksheet model would be the “define” section of the “assign, define and test” strategy we are trying to stay clear of. But, I am here to scream from the rooftops that this is so far from the truth. It is HOW you use the worksheet that matters most.

⭐️ Today, you are going to learn that it’s not actually the word web that works magic. It’s HOW you use the word web that makes your magical spell truly stick.

Conversations Themed Around Vocabulary

Whether you’ve read every post on my blog, or this is your first, you will quickly learn that I believe the special ingredient for teaching vocabulary is to provide students with multiple opportunities to TALK about words. When they’re not talking ABOUT words they should be talking WITH the new words we’ve just learned. 

I primarily create, share and use vocabulary worksheets in my classroom as conversation starters. I rarely ask students to complete a worksheet themed around a vocabulary word and then never have them go back to it again. These worksheets/resources/note taking sheets (whatever you want to call them!) act as a place to stop and jot thoughts before joining a small group or classroom conversation. My students travel to morning meeting, small groups and reading circles with their vocabulary notebooks, note taking worksheets and personal word lists. 

Foster a Word Loving Classroom Community

The words I teach become members of our classroom. We hang them on the word wall. We use them in conversation. We practice and play with them at home. We incorporate them into our projects, we share them with our friends from other classes… I could go on all day. 

⭐️ To truly create a classroom that fosters a love of words you have to LOVE these words yourself. If you’re not in love, put your best acting face on, and get in love quickly. You need to act like these words are the best thing since sliced bread.

So, all of this to say that the way I use a word web/word map for vocabulary instruction is far different than how you may have seen it implemented in the past. I use it as an avenue for introducing a new word. To spark conversation and help students connect the focus word to words/concepts they already know.

What is a Vocabulary Word Map or Word Web?

A vocabulary word map or word web is a style of graphic organizer that is themed around one focus vocabulary word. The focus word usually goes in the middle or on the top. Then, other related words, phrases, examples and meanings radiate out from it. This helps students to explore the meaning of the word in depth. Plus, make connections to other words or phrases they may already know. Some common areas on a word web are: definition, synonyms, antonyms, examples, non-examples, origin, stems and part of speech.

💻 If you’re looking to incorporate technology into your vocabulary lesson, encourage students to explore the focus word on a digital word web site. Learn more in my blog post, Say Hello to the Virtual Word Web!

Word Map for Vocabulary Implementation Tips

As a class, we learn a new word every week. To kick off this word learning, we fill out a word web together. I have students grab a clipboard and gather on the rug. We huddle up as if we’re about to learn a top secret football play that no one else can know about. I make sure to get very excited about the new focus word of the week. I then pass out the word web/word map sheet. I use this to spark a conversation about related words we already know. When also discuss examples of when and where the focus word may show up in real life situations. I project this word web onto the board, and all together we take notes and make connections.

Another way to use the word web is as a pre-teaching/warm-up tool before you introduce the new focus word. Before your lesson, you could ask students to use a dictionary, thesaurus or digital word web generator to help them fill in their word web graphic organizer. This can be done with a partner or independently. Then, you could come back together as a class to discuss their findings. Also, make sure everyone has the correct understanding of the word and synonyms that relate!

Whether you’re using the word web during your lesson or before, the most important thing is that you’re leading a conversation about the new focus word. I will never stop saying it, getting students to TALK about words is how you get vocabulary words to stick!

Example of Vocabulary Word Map

Depending on the word theme of the month (character trait, social studies vocabulary, etc.), I mix up what aspects of the focus word that the web is asking students to identify. Sometimes we only focus on the definition, synonyms and antonyms. Other times, I want them to share when they would hear this word, who would say it and what type of emotions go with this word. 

It’s not rocket science which word web I use when. Before I decide, I try to fill it out myself. If I’m not successful, students won’t be either. Words will quickly lend themselves to one style of word web versus another. If you have trouble filling out the first style of word web for the word of the week, try style 2, style 3, etc. 

⭐️ Word webs are simple to create, but even simple things take time. Since your teacher time is so precious, I’ve created 12 Vocabulary Word Web Graphic Organizer Templates that require zero prep! These are adaptable for any type of focus word. Whether you’re teaching science vocabulary words, or just a handful of rich words from your read aloud text, there is a word web in this pack that will work for you!

Time Management Pro Tip

As I’ve shared many times in past blog posts, I choose one word a week for our classroom vocabulary lessons. Do the math, this equals 4-5 words a month. Each month I choose a theme, whether it’s a whole month of character trait words or words related to our social studies unit, etc.

Slow and steady wins the race here folks. It really doesn’t matter what words you choose, just make sure they are relevant to your classroom and students lives. If they are words kids will never come across again, they are less likely to use them in conversation, thus less likely to remember them.

Don’t forget, it’s all about depth of knowledge of quality words, not memorizing a large quantity of random ones!

⏰ To save yourself time each week, at the beginning of the month, choose your 4-5 focus words for the next few weeks. To help students develop a routine, use the SAME vocabulary activities each week for all 4-5 weeks. Once you choose the words and activities, prepare your resources in bulk. For me, that means making 4-5 vocabulary activity/worksheet packets for each student. Just like that, you have a whole month of focus words, lessons and activities! Learn more about my 5 favorite vocabulary activities, here!

Classroom Management Pro Tip

As you start to teach 4-5 words per month the worksheets/note taking sheets you have students use will add up fast. Come up with a way to keep all of these activities organized, whether it’s in a word study/vocabulary folder, or in an interactive notebook.

Make sure to model how kids can refer back to their folder/notebook when they can’t remember the meaning of a past focus word. This notebook/folder will act as an archive of all of the words you’ve taught this year. 

Of course, now that you know all of the secrets to effective vocabulary teaching, you’re going to be teaching a LOT of words 😉. So, develop a routine of cleaning out students’ vocabulary folders every so often. I suggest every 3 months or so. Make sure they keep 1 artifact from each focus word, like the word web! This way no words are left behind!

❤️ Remember, it’s more about HOW you use the word web than which word web you choose. Use these as conversation starters and let it flow! All in all, the purpose of any vocabulary activity should be to get students to use these words in conversation. That is the special ingredient for getting vocabulary words to stick!

I invite you to comment with your success stories themed around using word webs in your classroom! Or please share any other tips and tricks for building a word learning routine.

I look forward to continuing to share low investment, high return ways to spice up your vocabulary lessons. Until next time, make today meaningful, friends 💕 .

🎥 Learn More About My 12 Pack of Vocabulary Word Maps & Word Webs in this Video:

💌 Loving these vocabulary word webs? Join my email list to access exclusive freebies and monthly tips and tricks for fostering a classroom culture that buzzes with new words!

More Vocabulary Word Web/Word Map related articles:

• Say Hello to the Virtual Word Web by Vocabulicious
• Using a Word Web to Expand Vocabulary by The SLP Solution
• Word Maps by Reading Rockets
• Using Word Maps to Introduce Concepts by Vocabulary.com

A word map is a visual organizer that promotes vocabulary development. Most word map organizers engage students in developing a definition, synonyms, antonyms, and a picture for a given vocabulary word or concept. Enhancing students’ vocabulary is important to developing their reading comprehension.

What is the another word of map?

A diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc. chart. plan. guide. atlas.

Is map a verb?

verb (used with object), mapped, map·ping. to represent or delineate on or as if on a map. to sketch or plan (often followed by out): to map out a new career.

Which noun is map?

map used as a noun: A visual representation of an area, whether real or imaginary. A function. “The discrete topology is always continuous, therefore functions with discrete domains are always maps.”

What is another name for a map key?

legend
Another name for a legend on a map is a map key, although you can get very picky and say that the legend holds the map key and other information. A legend is necessary for most maps because cartographers cannot write everything into the map, so they need symbols.

What is map and its types?

There are two main types of maps – political maps and physical maps. Physical maps show the shape of the land – hills, lakes, forests, the coast and so on. Political maps show how the land is used by people – counties, provinces, countries, town boundaries, etc.

How many types of maps are there?

What do you need to know about word maps?

Word Maps. A word map is a visual organizer that promotes vocabulary development. Using a graphic organizer, students think about terms or concepts in several ways. Most word map organizers engage students in developing a definition, synonyms, antonyms, and a picture for a given vocabulary word or concept.

Are there any other words for a map?

other words for map. design. drawing. graph. outline. picture. plan. print. sketch.

How many different forms of a word are there?

Many words in English have four different forms; verb, noun, adjective and adverb. A large number of words have the four forms; some do not. For example some recently-coined words such as ‘avatar’, ‘captcha’ or ‘selfie’ only exist as nouns.

Why do students use a word map strategy?

Throughout this strategy students are making personal connections, because they are drawing their own picture, writing their own sentence and the definition in their own words. By doing this, it gives more meaning to learning the vocabulary word, and this would help struggling readers tremendously.

The Core Vocabulary Project (CVP) Word Maps

A word map is a graphic organizer that supports connections among vocabulary and ideas. TextProject provides Word Maps for the Core Vocabulary-the most important words in written English. Three types of words maps are available for the core vocabulary: synonyms, morphology, and multiple meaning of words.

Freddy Hiebert (TextProject’s President & CEO) and colleagues (Hiebert, Goodwin, & Cervetti, 2017; Pugh & Hiebert, 2019) have used digital resources to establish that 2,500 families of words account for at least 90% of the total words in texts from Grades 1 through college.  Freddy has labeled this group of words as the “Core Vocabulary.”

A frequent response to this finding is:  “Please give me the list.” Lists of vocabulary have been many in the century since Thorndike (1917) published The Teachers’ Work Book. But no evidence has shown that moving students through a list results in a rich vocabulary. Only by connecting words semantically and morphologically do students expand their vocabularies.

The Core Vocabulary Project (CVP) aims to support students’ vocabularies through word maps of three kinds:  semantic, word families, and multiple-meaning words. Each type of CVP Word maps represents a different form of the critical knowledge represented by the 2,500 word families.

THE THREE KINDS OF CVP WORD MAPS

Semantic maps:  Semantic maps that connect central ideas are the foundation of the Core Vocabulary Project (CVP). Each key word that represents one of the 2,500 word families appears on a semantic map.

Key words appear on semantic maps in the grade bands where they first appear. Many more key words appear early in written English, which means that there are more word maps for earlier grades (K-1, 2-3)  than for later grades (4-5, Middle+). The same concept often appears across several grade levels but with different key words.

 Word-family maps. On each semantic map, several words are marked with a purple star. The purple star indicates the availability of a word-family map. In phase one of the CVP, word- family maps are provided for key words that have numerous family members and illustrate types of word families in English.

 Multiple-meaning-word maps.  At least two words on each map are marked with a pink heart. The pink heart means that a multiple-meaning-word map is available for that word. Many words, especially common ones, have multiple meanings. In the phase one of the CVP, multiple-meaning-word maps are provided for words that have especially distinctive meanings.

¹Words with multiple meanings may appear in more than one word set. Because the key words for a family represent the most frequent form of a word, tense and inflection of words may not be consistent. In some cases, words that are central to a semantic cluster but are not among the 2,500 word families have been included.

Here are the semantic maps. Word-family and multiple-meaning-word maps are accessed through the semantic map.