TCEA Responds: Vocabulary Sites Boost Learning

Dear TCEA Responds:

I attended a lunch and learn last fall and learned about some great ways to help students access great vocabulary sites online that included visuals. I teach students with dyslexia and any vocabulary sites with images are incredibly helpful. Do you have any suggestions or ideas?  

Thanks, Daisy

Dear Daisy,

What a great question! For many students, words are easier to remember when paired with images. Visual vocabulary tools provide an engaging way to strengthen word retention. Here are some top resources that combine words with pictures, videos, and even sound.

Visual Vocabulary

This online tool is perfect for English learners at various levels. With simple definitions and images for a wide range of words, Visual Vocabulary makes it easy for students to associate meanings with pictures, reinforcing comprehension.

English Picture Dictionary by Langeek

Langeek’s Picture Dictionary is a site that provides definitions, images, and example sentences. It is free to use and it is user-friendly, making it accessible to learners of all ages.

TextProject Core Vocabulary Word Pictures

For those focused on foundational vocabulary, TextProject’s Core Vocabulary Word Pictures is a great resource. It organizes words into concept groups, which is especially helpful for young learners. It is also helpful for those working on grouping together texts that discuss the same theme.

Little Explorers Picture Dictionary

Designed for children, this picture dictionary by Enchanted Learning uses simple, colorful visuals to introduce vocabulary in a fun way. It’s ideal for young learners just beginning to read and expand their vocabulary.

Kid’s Wordsmyth

Kid’s Wordsmyth adds a unique touch with animated images and sound features that make learning interactive. This dictionary is excellent for children who benefit from multi-sensory learning tools to reinforce word meanings. WILD is their free illustrated dictionary for children, which shows colorful animated images and sounds out the word.

Vidtionary

For older students and adults, Vidtionary is a video dictionary. The website has a collection of short videos that show different example scenes illustrating a word’s meaning.

Merriam-Webster’s Visual Dictionary Online

This site features detailed illustrations, especially useful for scientific or technical vocabulary. Learners can explore over 20,000 terms across various topics with detailed diagrams and labeled images, which helps in fields like biology, anatomy, and geography.

Each of these tools offers a unique way to combine vocabulary learning with images. Whether you’re a teacher, student, or parent, these resources can enrich the vocabulary learning experience and make language acquisition more engaging. In addition, don’t forget to visit all our other blogs related to vocabulary learning.