New Teacher Tips - How to Teach Vocabulary in a Theme

It's a Saturday night and instead of vegging a bit incycle I had hoped to get.
front of the television, (something I haven't done for aImmigrants come - they live in slum areas - they live in
while) I'm sitting in front of the computer ruminating onpoverty - they join gang members - they are
a very successful vocabulary lesson I had with mycontrolled by the gang members (Mafia) - they live in
ninth graders earlier this week.hopelessness - together they create violence.
The students, all thirty seven lovers of rappers and rapI was amazed. They had linked the words well. Each
music, knew a lot more than I thought. For the pastword seemed to echo an important type in social
week, they have been attentive and motivated whenaction. It was exactly the theme that I wanted. So, I
they are usually hard to settle down since there are sowent to the next step. I asked the class - what are
many of them. When I surprised them with my long listsome ways to take action against this?
of rappers I collected while watching MTV and VH1One student said, "write social rap songs... it's the way
videos, they looked at me in awe. One student saidto stop poverty and violence."
out loud to another student: "How does she know all"What is the one thing that is going to save an
this?" He saw me look at him and smiled. I didn't sayimmigrant from not entering this cycle of poverty and
that I was catching up on a bit of MTV and VH1.hopelessness?
I was looking for ways to go beyond what the bookThe kids said: "self-awareness."
had to offer in terms of how to teach vocabulary andI asked them "Why?" They answered "education.
thought about connecting the plight of rappers in theWhen you know, you have another choice."
seventies to a social action theme?Great answer.
I used a graphic organizer and elicited the social action