Which strategy is a grid that helps students to understand how vocabulary and concepts are related to one another?

Student Approach

1. Choose your topic

2. Create a list of concept terms and key features related to your topic (Read and Write-Create Vocabulary List/Google Docs-Insert Table-Read and Write Word Prediction,Ispeech Write/Google Web Speech API, Google Dictionary, Offline Dictionary)

3. Make a chart that lists several terms with this concept down the rows in the left column. Place as many key features associated with the topic across the top row of the chart.(Google Docs-Insert Table, Read and Write Vocabulary List)

4. Look at the cells in the chart and decide if the key feature fits the concept term in that row. If the answer is yes, put a "+" sign in the grid. If the answer is no, put a "-"sign. If you don't know, put a question mark. (Google Docs)

5. Create extra columns and rows if you think of more features or terms (Google Docs-Insert Table)

6. When your chart is complete, analyze and summarize the information.  

7. Share your answers with teacher or peers. (Google Drive Share, Google Hangout Screenshare, Gmail, Google Calendar Attachment)

Teacher Approach

1. Identify a category of concepts related to the topic of study

2. Introduce the topic and the Semantic Feature Analysis graphic organizer to students.(Webspiration)

3. Provide or ask students to come up with key vocabulary words or concept terms and important features related to the topic. (Read and Write-Vocabulary List, Webspiration Rapid Fire Brainstorm, Google Docs-Insert Table)

4. Ask students to list the vocabulary words down the left hand column and the key features of the topic across the top row of the chart (Read and Write Vocabulary List/Google Docs-Insert Table)

5. Have students place a "+" sign in the chart when a concept term aligns with a particular key feature. If the word does not align students may put a "–" in the chart. If students are unable to determine a relationship they may put a question mark. If needed, model the process of completing the grid to students.(Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Hangout Screenshare)

6. After completing the matrix, ask students to share their observations and what they have discovered about the concepts.(Google Drive-Share/Collaborate)

Semantic Feature Analysis is a vocabulary strategy that uses a grid to help students explore the interrelationship of terms.  While students are actively completing the grid and analyzing its results,  students are able to identify relationships, make predictions, and master important concepts. Why use this strategy?  One reason is because it provides a visual representation of the similarities and differences of each term.  It also enables students to see what sets it apart from those other words. Another reason is that it can be used with the whole class, small groups, or individually.   Additionally, teachers are able to monitor each student's grid and understand what students know about the topic allowing teachers to tailor instruction accordingly. According to page 19 of Dr. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch in their 2011 book entitled Literacy in Context (LinC): Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students Grades 5-12, "Semantic Feature Analysis can be used before, during, and after instruction.  Before beginning the reading of a passage, the teacher might introduce the terms and find out what students already know. The initial “+” and “-” marks can be written in one color. Then, during or after reading a section of text, students can come back to the chart and revisit their evaluation of the features. After reconsidering, some might be changed from “-” to “+”, and vice-versa. These new, revised marks can be made in a different color. "

1. Identify concepts and/or terms to be learned and the features of these concepts that can be used to compare them.
2. Create a chart that lists the concepts down the left-hand side and the features across the top.
3. Guide students through a discussion of each concept. As each feature is considered, decide
whether the concept exemplifies that feature (+) or does not exemplify that feature (-).
4. Use the chart to explore the concepts further, generate questions, and conduct research.

What is a semantic feature analysis grid?

What is semantic mapping strategy?

What is an example of a semantic feature?

What is reciprocal teaching strategy?