Vocabulary is an important part of my lessons and my teaching. Science, especially Biology, is a vocabulary dense field. If vocabulary isn’t explicitly taught, students have a hard time understanding the complex concepts and processes.
With Vocabulary Logs, students define, illustrate, and summarize, which are processes that help connect ideas and information in their brains. English Learners need and benefit from explicit vocabulary development, and all students benefit from the practice of identifying key terms.
Vocabulary Logs are one of my favorite routine assignments. Vocab Logs are usually one of the first real science lessons we get into at the beginning of the year, like when we learn about Systems. Check out my blog post How She Teaches What is a System? to read more about that and how I introduce Vocabulary Logs.
I hope the ideas in this blog post are helpful to your teaching, and save you time and stress! Keep reading to learn more about this important routine in my classroom:
- A Vocabulary Log is a Graphic Organizer
- A Vocabulary Log is a Classroom Routine
- Introducing the Vocabulary Log
- Grading Vocabulary Logs
- Challenges with the Vocab Log
- Alternativs to a Vocab Log
A Vocabulary Log is a Graphic Organizer
It’s simple! A “Vocab Log” is a graphic organizer where there is space for the Term, Definition, an Image, and a Keyword.
Students use the textbook or online sources to write the definition in their own words. They use Google Image Search to draw each vocabulary word. Add terms like “science” and “diagram” and “labeled diagram” to the search to find good examples.
The Keyword is a word or short phrase that either explains, represents, or summarizes the term. The Keyword is like a synonym. The Keyword is important for students to create because it is easier to recall than an entire definition.
A Vocab Log is an easy graphic organizer to create and distribute. Or students can create one in their Science Notebook/on binder paper using a ruler and a pencil. They can even make it a foldable with a fold and some snips!
A Vocabulary Log is a Classroom Routine
A system for vocabulary development is one of those classroom routines that I never regret putting in place in my classes early on in the year. I use Vocab Logs after a lesson, lab, or activity, and it helps reinforce what we’re learning.
A Vocabulary Log is a convenient assignment when students finish at different rates. It allows students who need a little extra time to finish, and those who are done earlier have something meaningful to work on. Most will complete it during the class time provided, but whatever isn’t done during class time becomes homework. Using class time wisely so they don’t have homework is a motivating factor for students to stay on task and get it done. It is an important routine and expectation in my classroom that helps with my classroom management. Check out my blog post 8 Classroom Routines & My Go-To Lesson Structure for Better Classroom Management to read more.
I depend on Vocabulary Logs after a lecture to support learning new material. They can even work as a form of note taking during a lecture. Check out my blog post 5 Ways to Take Notes Without a Worksheet to read more.
Vocab Logs can make a great homework assignment. They can be short depending on how many terms are assigned. They review the key concepts from the day’s lesson, which make an awesome study strategy. Check out my blog post, 12 Study Tips to Teach Middle School Students to read about Vocab Logs as a study technique.
Vocab Logs are an easy lesson plan for a substitute teacher, because students can complete the work independently. Check out my blog post, 9 Routine Assignments that are Easy to Prep and Make Great Sub Plans to read about Vocabulary Logs in that context.
Introducing the Vocabulary Log
This is a system that I want to use all year long, and I want students to be able to complete it independently. It is important to start early, start slow, and show students exactly how to do it correctly. I introduce the Vocabulary Log as one of the first assignments with science content in the first few weeks of school. I tell students that this is how we will do vocabulary for the rest of the year.
For the first time, I make a slideshow with the definition and images for each term. The definitions are simple and in plain language. I ask students to write the definition in the Vocabulary Log exactly as they see it in the slides. I adjust my pace to allow students enough time to listen and write the information.
After going through the definitions, I share my screen to show students how to find an image. I use Google Image Search for the pictures. I want students to know what criteria to look for in a good image. Detailed, labeled, and science specific images work best. I use the document camera to draw a picture. I illustrate one or two of the terms and students draw the images in their own Vocabulary Logs. Now they only have a few images left to draw to complete their first vocabulary log. I circulate the classroom and assist as they use Google Image Search to find and complete the remaining images. The textbook works great for students who forget their device!
Once students get the hang of it, I can remove some of the scaffolds. I show students what writing a verbatim definition looks like, and explain how it is confusing and less likely to be retained. The hardest part is getting students to write definitions in their own words. I’ve noticed that across the board, it’s something students need help with. Even 11th and 12th graders need help with it.
Check out my blog post How She Teaches What is a System? to read more about the lesson where I first introduce Vocabulary Logs.
Grading Vocabulary Logs
Each criteria (word, definition, image, and keyword) is worth 1 point. That means every term is worth a total of 4 points.
I assign 4-6 words at a time, and allow for about 20-30 minutes of class time. Students have other class opportunities to work on their vocabulary before the notebook check, but ultimately it is up to them to get it done. Even if they need to finish for homework. It’s in their best interest to stay on top of their work, so completing it for homework the same day it is assigned would be best.
I usually wait to give points in the grade book until the notebook or binder check for the unit. By that time, it might have up to 10 terms that total 30-40 points.
Challenges with the Vocab Log
After using this method many times, I have trouble getting students to write definitions in their own words. It is so irritating when students copy a high level encyclopedia definition word for word. If they don’t understand it, they won’t remember it. Students also forget the keyword or have a hard time creating it. I see how doing the keyword together is actually good review and helps them understand better.
These are “easy” points in a notebook check, but if students skip it entirely then they can take a big hit, like a full letter grade. It is unfortunate because I give them plenty of time to get the work done in class. They even have a few weeks notice to finish everything before the notebook check. I feel frustrated when I see students miss out on this learning opportunity!
Alternatives to a Vocab Log
There are many ways to directly teach vocabulary that isn’t a Vocab Log. I like to sprinkle in all of the strategies below and rotate through them throughout the year.
- Foldable
- Dividing Page
- Crossword Puzzle (if I don’t have Science World Magazine, My Crossword Maker is awesome and has free and premade crosswords for Biology and lots of other subjects)
- Coloring Page (I purchased this Biology Coloring Book, check out my blog post How She Teaches Being Alive to read more about it)
- Labeled diagrams
- Concept maps (like the Frayer Model)
- Go old-school with Flashcards
- Go new school with Flocabulary and Quizlet (Quizlet Live is super fun to play in teams)
- Highlighting (I love a good Annotation!)
Try it!
Vocabulary Logs are a straightforward assignment that make an awesome resource in science notebooks. My students enjoy doing this simple assignment.
Vocabulary logs are one of my favorite routines in my classroom like the Agenda, Warm-ups, and Check-ins. I never regret having this system in place. Read more about these routines in my blog post, 8 Classroom Routines & My Go-To Lesson Structure for Better Classroom Management.
In Biology, the first vocabulary terms are System, Structure, Function, and Component. Check out my blog post How She Teaches What is a System? to read more about that lesson and how I introduce the Vocab Log. It is a great segue into body systems.
Also check out my blog post, List of Vocabulary Terms for High School Biology to read about my favorite science terms to teach in high school Biology.
Let me know what questions you have by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you! Check out some of my other blog posts below that I mentioned in this post to read more about me and my classroom!
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