A Focus on Vocabulary
This was an interesting read and I found the information on the break down of vocabulary into the four categories useful. Useful in a general knowledge sense that is. In a Tech Ed classroom there is little choice in the vocabulary that students must learn. This vocabulary will also not help their general literacy all that much as it is rather specific. There can be a link drawn between the actions performed with a tool and the tools name and things can be scaffolded through morphology that way. The development of word consciousness is well beyond the scope of a Tech Ed classroom. I realise that every teacher should be concerned with general language development, but that is a lower priority and unrelated to the development of the skills needed for Tech Ed, including it’s specific language. That said, I would prefer to have a student be able to use a tool with a great deal of competence then be able to spell its name correctly.