1. Vocabulary Playgrounds
- Description: Our “Reading Playgrounds” suite, and Vocabulary Playgrounds are interactive exercises designed to help students build vocabulary skills through multiple linguistic aspects like phonology, orthography, morphology, and meaning.
- Targeted Curriculum: Integrated with foundational reading programs such as Countdown, Blast, and HD Word. Words and concepts used are directly tied to these reading units.
- Features:
- Engaging games and activities that expose students to vocabulary words in various contexts.
- Science of Reading principles include, focusing on structured, explicit word exposure to enhance comprehension.
- Accessible through the teacher's dashboard for easy integration into lesson plans.
- Think of Vocabulary Playgrounds as a fun place where students interact with words that match their reading lessons. It’s packed with activities and games that help them understand not just what words mean, but how they sound (phonology), look (orthography), and are built (morphology). When using programs like Countdown, Blast, or HD Word, Vocabulary Playgrounds fits right in to reinforce the specific vocabulary taught in those units.
2. InferCabulary
- Description: A visual vocabulary tool that teaches vocabulary using images and contextual clues, helping students infer the meaning of words similarly to how they might in natural reading situations.
- Approach: Provides Tier 2 vocabulary exposure by having students interpret words through visual prompts, reinforcing understanding without needing explicit definitions.
- Unique Method: Instead of direct teaching, it's focused learning through inference, supporting wide reading and oral language skills.
- InferCabulary takes a different route by teaching words through images and contexts. Instead of giving definitions upfront, it encourages students to figure out the meaning based on visual cues—similar to how you might infer meaning from context in real-world reading. It’s ideal for expanding general vocabulary and works especially well with words students will encounter often in academics, known as Tier 2 vocabulary.
Key Differences:
| Aspect | Vocabulary Playgrounds | InferCabulary |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Approach | Direct vocabulary instruction in context | Inference-based, using visual clues |
| Content Level | Curriculum-specific vocabulary | Tier 2 vocabulary (general academic words) |
| Integration | Integrated with reading lessons | Standalone or supplemental vocabulary tool |
| Methodology | Structured, explicit vocabulary building | Promotes indirect learning through context |
Usage Instructions:
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Access:
- Vocabulary Playgrounds: Teachers can access this through the Reading Playground tab in their Really Great Reading account.
- InferCabulary: Typically a separate tool, may be licensed and accessed through Really Great Reading’s resources or external link.
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Implementation Tips:
- Vocabulary Playgrounds: Best used alongside the corresponding reading unit for reinforcing specific word lists.
- InferCabulary: Use to complement broader vocabulary development, especially useful for enhancing critical thinking and inference skills in language.
Both Vocabulary Playgrounds and InferCabulary support vocabulary growth but differ in approach and application. For structured, lesson-aligned practice, Vocabulary Playgrounds are ideal. For developing inference skills and general academic vocabulary, InferCabulary offers a unique, visual-based learning method.
