Sophomores Put Vocabulary Words on T-Shirts
It was a sight that led to many questions, which was exactly the point of the exercise. Sophomores in teacher Mickey Baron’s English class at Huntington High School decided to participate in a really unique practice that proved to be educational for them and students around the building.
“We had been studying vocabulary words all through the year for the PSAT and SAT, learning their spelling and definition,” Mr. Baron said. “One day we decided it would be neat to get shirts imprinted with the vocabulary word that defines us in some way.”
Some of the words included: tenacious, mollify, cavalier, histrionic, eclectic, vivacious, loquacious, persnickety, ubiquitous and diminutive among many others. Mr. Baron chose the word “mellifluous” for his shirt. The word is defined by Merriam-Webster as “1: having a smooth rich flow (‘a mellifluous voice’); 2: filled with something (as honey) that sweetens.”
The words were printed in white on the front of the black T-shirts. The sophomores wore them around the school and were ready for the questions that were sure to follow. “Everyone wanted to know the reason for the word on the shirt,” Mr. Baron said. “So the kids had to explain what the class was doing, why they chose the particular word and how it fit them.”
Director of Humanities Joseph Leavy praised the “research-based instructional approach implemented by Mr. Baron, specifically that new words are acquired by learners after at least seven repetitions of visual and/or auditory contact; association of new words with an extraordinary event, or a specific person or singular experience also facilitates firming the word in long-term memory (Levine). Based on these principles, Mr. Baron's students themselves mastered these words and provided an opportunity for peers and staff to enhance their vocabulary as they saw the words over and over again, pasted to their tee-shirts, and associated with the student. I applaud Mr. Baron on his innovative pedagogy and hope that he continues to inspire other teachers to be risky.”
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office