16 Ways to Help Learners Improve Their Glossary and Dictionary Skills

Are you looking for ways to help students improve their glossary and dictionary skills? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the student for demonstrating knowledge of glossary and/or dictionary skills: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong and (b) what the student should be doing.

3. Praise the student for demonstrating knowledge of glossary skills and/or dictionary skills based on the number of times the student can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of times required for reinforcement.

4. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for demonstrating glossary and dictionary skills at school.

5. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too complicated and (b) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

6. Select a peer to model glossary and dictionary skills for the student and to assist the student with instructions, etc.

7. Get the student to be a peer tutor to teach another student a concept they have learned.

8. Provide practice in glossary and/or dictionary skills by using an app that gives the student instant feedback.

9. Make sure the student has mastery of ideas at each level before introducing a new skill level.

10. Make sure the student is not required to learn more information than they are capable of at any time.

11. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Competitive learning activities may cause the student to hurry and commit errors.

12. Give the student an increased chance for help or assistance on academic tasks (e.g., peer tutoring, instructions for work sent home, frequent interactions, etc.).

13. Daily, examine those skills, ideas, tasks, etc., that have been previously introduced.

14. Consider using AI to teach reading comprehension.

15. Consider using Alexa to teach reading skills.

16. Try using one of our many apps designed to teach literacy skills and help students with reading issues:

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