Habit 3

Facilitate student use of academic language.

Checking for understanding models good study skills, it makes students participants in their learning rather than consumers. Students do better when misconceptions are identified before they can interfere with learning (Bloom  & Broder (1950); Vosniadou, Ioannides, Dimitrakopoulou, and Papademetriou, 2001). By asking students to use the academic language and vocabulary in their interactions, not only does the vocabulary become a part of the way they explain their knowledge, but it also gives students a common understanding of each other. When students are asked to interact with each other, they are given the opportunity to share power and learn about each other. Some of the teaching strategies used to help students gain vocabulary include word wall activities, word work, word art, and cooperative learning strategies.  All involve active engagement of students with each other.