Verbal Reasoning & Vocabulary

Common Difficulties:

• General lack of background knowledge

• Weak vocabulary

• Gaps across subject area skills

• Difficulty generalizing to new concepts

• Difficulty with effective oral expression

Accommodations/Strategies:

• Repetition

• Mnemonics

• Pre-teach vocabulary

• Create an environment that is both language and experience rich

Common Difficulties:

• Difficulty learning/identifying math vocabulary

• Difficulty with word problems

• Difficulty understanding the relationship between symbols and words

Accommodations/Strategies:

• Pre-teach content area vocabulary

• Draw a picture or give visuals connected to word problems

• Teach content area synonyms (i.e., sum, plus, add)

Common Difficulties:

• Weak reading fluency

• Poor comprehension

• Struggles with inferencing, summarizing, and main idea

Accommodations/Strategies:

• Pre-teach vocabulary

• Read for a variety of purposes, including for pleasure

• Teach self-monitoring skills

Common Difficulties:

• Redundant word use

• Difficulty with expression

• Limited content

Accommodations/Strategies:

• Use word banks and graphic organizers

• Use familiar vocabulary on test items

• Think-aloud to model brainstorming