Verbal and Visual Word Association (VVWA) is a vocabulary-building strategy combining words and visuals to help students make connections and deepen their understanding of new terms. To use the VVWA strategy, students create a four-quadrant graphic organizer for each vocabulary word. In the quadrants, they write the word, draw a visual representation, provide a student-friendly definition, and make a personal connection to the word.
Potential Uses:
- Introduce new vocabulary: Present students with key vocabulary words from a text they will be reading or a topic they are studying.
- Guide students in creating their own charts: Have students create their own VVWA charts for the new vocabulary words, encouraging them to use their creativity and make personal connections.
- Facilitate sharing and discussion: Provide opportunities for students to share their charts and discuss their visual representations, definitions, and personal associations.
VVWA encourages active engagement with new words, while also supporting visual learners through imagery. This strategy encourages personal connections, promotes active learning, and allows for differentiation by adapting to various learning styles and complexities.
This template includes both digital and print-friendly versions, allowing you to tailor it to your classroom and student needs.
Strengthen vocabulary skills in every subject. Course 5260: Literacy in the Content Areas I explores ways to build word knowledge, improve reading comprehension, and support literacy across disciplines with research-backed strategies.
About the Author
Betsy Butler (she/her) is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in English, a Master’s in Education, and has been teaching since 1992. Betsy uses her three decades of teaching experience to write and revise our courses while selecting the perfect accompanying texts. Her specialty areas include ELA, special education topics, behavior management, and mental health.
Fun Fact: Betsy’s daily conquest is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle!
