The following simple game can still be a pre-reading vocabulary task, but it also develops students' skill at guessing the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary from context. The teacher culls the text for potentially difficult vocabulary and puts each word on a piece of paper. All pieces are put in an envelope. The class is divided into teams. The competition begins when a student from one team pulls out a word at random, reads it, and fellow team members try to find the word in the reading, and guess the meaning.
Students can call out the meaning in English or the native language, depending on their level.
If the team that pulled out the word can't guess the meaning, other teams can be given a chance in succession. Each correct definition scores a point and mistakes may be scored a negative point. Teachers know they need to pay attention to the needs of weaker readers. They can build up their skills while maintaining a high level of interest, encouraging cooperation, and avoiding stigmatizing these students as weaker readers. Just as important, teachers can do it all without calling in their skills as master of ceremonies at a reading circus.