Happy Monday! It’s time for the Vocabulary Building link party! Click here for an intro, or just read on and join in!

I’m sure everyone is still filled with emotion after Valentine’s Day, 🙂 so this week is all about feelings…

Our root word of the week is “path.” (feeling or emotion)

To build background knowledge about the word meaning…

• Gather some background knowledge: For little ones, we love the Todd Parr books. And for older kids: Understanding Myself: A Kid’s Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings, by Mary C. Lamia
• Brainstorm some words that contain the path word part. Talk about their meaning. The goal is to focus on age-appropriate words. Pick words that will help kids stretch their ability to use interesting language in writing and speaking, and to understand what they read.
• Think about who might frequently use words with this word part in everyday life. (teachers, parents, kids, therapists…)
• If you have time and want to explore this idea more, there are lots more great resources in this Edutopia article on empathy.

Now it’s time to build! We brainstormed path words, (empathy, apathy, pathetic, telepathy). My son “built” a little scene about the word empathy with these Kimochi characters, since they literally wear their emotions on their shirts and their cute little faces.

Ok, it’s your turn! Please join the fun!

1. Take a picture of your kids’/students’ representation of a path word, OR just link to ANY great idea you’ve blogged about related to building vocabulary!
2. Share it somewhere. (Blog, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest…) If you want to connect and help me spread the word, please provide a link back here in your post. You can use the image below. (Or just a text link is fine too.) If you’re posting in places where hashtags are cool, you can use these: #vocabularybuilding and #homeliteracyblueprint
   I’ll pick a few to share on my Building + Learning or Literacy Activities Pinterest boards, so make sure you add a clear image and a direct link.
3. Link up here.
4. Check out the other links and show them some love.

And…I’m taking next week off because we’re on Midwinter Break, but if you want to play along next time, here are the root words coming up March 3: “graph” and “scrib”  -Both root words mean to write.

Please join me! I don’t want to be the only one at my party. {Insert pitiful begging face here.}

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