Word of the Day Improves and Redirects Student Attention While Supporting Vocabulary Development

Abstract

Have you ever noticed the more you attempt to redirect the attention of students by calling them by name, the more it seems they tune you out? Some days it seems that you call their names at least a thousand times and some of them still miss out on instruction. To learn and master new concepts, including the acquisition of new vocabulary, students must be able to sustain attention during direct instruction, stay focused throughout the guided practice activity, and successfully complete the independent practice assignments. Yet, difficulty with maintaining attention is a common characteristic for students with reading difficulties, including those with severe learning disabilities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); (Jakobson & Kikas, 2007; Solan, Shelley-Tremblay, Hansen, & Larson, 2007). Considering the relationship between focusing attention and learning, it is critical that teachers use innovative, engaging techniques that teach students to regulate and maintain their attention throughout the day while also reinforcing students’ learning processes (Pelco & Reed-Victor, 2007). Word of the day (WOD) provides teachers with a positive strategy for teaching students to regulate and maintain their attention (Kliegel, Ropeter, & Mackinlay, 2006; Rueda, Posner, & Rothbart, 2005). Students’ ability to self-monitor their attention and performance contributes to the academic goal of reinforcing the acquisition and mastery of new vocabulary terms, thereby improving overall academic performance (August, Carlo, Dressler, & Snow, 2005). Word of the day provides students with multiple opportunities for exposure to and use of new vocabulary terms while engaging them in their personal learning experience. The WOD strategy integrates instruction and guided practice in vocabulary acquisition with a positive classroom management technique. Word of the day helps students increase their reading and speaking vocabulary by providing them with repeated exposure to, and distributed practice with, vocabulary concepts throughout the class period (Aase & Sagvolden, 2006; Scott, JamiesonNoel, & Asselin, 2003). Students are required to learn the vocabulary definition and to use the meaning of the word in a variety of settings. Word of the day follows effective