1/21/09
EXPANDING WORD WEB VOCABULARY AROUND THE WORLD
If you've wondered why you haven't received an Ellie's Word for some time, it's not because I haven't been thinking about you. I've been working on learning the many ways that the Internet, and especially Google®, can help Word Web Vocabulary attract new users. Although enjoyable, this work seems more difficult than any graduate course I ever took!
The only fun activity has been creating dialogues on a YouTube site. Some are between two parents, others between two teenagers, Joe and Maggie. Joe first describes an architectural element he's learned from Word Web Vocabulary to a girl whose English class does not use Word Web. Here's the first conversation between Joe and Maggie:
Joe: "Look, Maggie, at the gargoyle on that building! Isn't it beautiful?"
Maggie:"At the what?"
Joe: "Maggie, you gotta learn about buildings! Don't you study Word Web Vocabulary in your class? That's where I learned about buildings. They're great fun once you know their language!"
Maggie: "No, we don't have Word Web in our classroom, so, I guess you better become my teacher."
Joe: "OK! I'll do that! But I gotta run right now. See you tomorrow and we'll start on the language of buildings!"
Future conversations discuss dentils, dormer windows and other building features. My tech-savvy son is creating avatars for those characters. I hope my next Ellie's Word will have a link where you can see the buildings and the characters as they discuss one feature or another. Later conversations will cover other Word Web's special elements, such as Cool Connections®, Literary Links®, Periodical Pearls®, Root-and-Branch® weeks, etc.
Two mothers also appear on YouTube. Here's the start of one conversation:
Mother: "I cannot believe what Andy has learned in school!"
Friend: "What do you mean? I thought he didn't like school!"
Mother: "You're right. He's been rather turned off this year. But now, all of a sudden, I'd say he's turned on!"
Of course she goes on to explain about Word Web!
What about you? Would you be willing to give me some statements about any student's or your own positive experience with Word Web? Do you discuss WWV with your teacher or parent friends who don't have this vocabulary program in their classroom? If not, please speak up!
The start of the second half of the school year was always my favorite. I hope it's yours, 
too. By now, everyone has the rhythm of the days, is involved in working on new material that will take them several steps up the learning curve, and is gaining confidencewith new knowledge. For much of the country, it still gets dark early and the weather isn't very enticing for outdoor playing.
If you have specific questions about Word Web, do you know that you can send them directly to me? I'll do my best to help
That's my Word for January.
Ellie
