Elementary Vocabulary
A
ability grouping Placing students into groups based solely on their performance/achievement on a test.
accommodation A device, material, or type of support process that will enable a student to accomplish a task more efficiently.
ADHD Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This is a condition in which an individual has difficulty sustaining attention, focusing on information, and frequently demonstrates hyperactive behavior.
analysis A level of questioning in which students break down something into its component parts.
assessment: term also used for type of test. Gathering information about the level of performance of individual students.
C
comprehension The way in which ideas are organized into categories. the ability to read text, process it, and understand its meaning
cooperative learning Placing students into small groups and having them work together toward a common goal.
creative thinking Generating new ways of looking at a situation.
D
differentiated instruction Providing instruction according to the different ability levels in a classroom.
disruptive behavior Any behavior that interferes with or impedes a teacher's ability to teach and students' abilities to learn.
E
evaluation A method of determining if students learned what they were taught. It is usually conducted at the end of a lesson.
F
free lunch A student's meal which is completely subsidized by government funds.
G
gifted students Students who demonstrate high levels of imagination, curiosity, and intelligence.
graphic organizer A chart, outline, or web of ideas or concepts visually organized into groups or categories.
H
heterogeneous groups Groups of students of mixed abilities.
I
IEP A document that outlines specific learning objectives for a student and how those objectives will be carried out.
inclusion Involving all students in the educational setting that best meets their needs.
intrinsic motivation Motivation that comes from within the individual.
L
lesson plan An outline of goals and objectives, activities designed to help students achieve those goals, and objectives and ways to assess whether students have actually reached those goals and objectives.
M
manipulatives Physical materials such as cubes, blocks, or balls that model mathematical concepts.
modification Changes in the instruction, course content, or outcomes for special needs students.
MTSS: (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) process of systematically documenting the performance of students as evidence of the need for additional services after making changes in classroom instruction
P
parent-teacher conference A face-to-face meeting between a teacher and one or both parents (or guardians) of a student to discuss the student's academic performance and any concerns either party might have.
performance assessment When students demonstrate their mastery of material through a “hands-on activity” (assembling an electrical circuit, for example).
phonemic awareness A recognition that spoken words are composed of several individual sounds.
phonics A recognition of sound-spelling relationships in printed words.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): is a way for schools to encourage good behavior, through the usage of interventions and supports.
prior knowledge The knowledge a learner already has about a topic or subject. It is the past knowledge a learner brings to a new learning situation.
problem-solving The ability to identify and solve problems by applying appropriate skills systematically.
prompting Assisting students in thinking beyond their response to a question.
R
remediation A teacher comment that helps students reach a more accurate or higher-level response.
routines Ways of managing the classroom; an established set of expectations.
rubric A document that describes varying levels of performance (from high to low) for a specific assignment.
S
section 504 A civil rights law that requires that institutions not discriminate against people with disabilities.
specials Classes usually designated as nonacademic. They typically include art class, P.E., library time, and music class.
standards A description of what students should know or be able to do.
standards-based teaching When teachers use activities and lessons to ensure that students master a predetermined set of requirements or standards.
V
verbal-linguistic intelligence The ability to use and produce language effectively.
visual-spatial intelligence The ability to create visual images in the form of drawings, designs, maps, puzzles, mazes, and other creative items.
W
wait time The time between the asking of a question and the solicitation of a response.