Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
Vocabulary instruction involves intentionally teaching the words students need to understand content, engage in academic discourse, and express themselves effectively. It includes direct instruction, repeated exposure, and opportunities to apply new words in authentic contexts — across content areas and grade levels.
🎯 Why It Matters
🎯 Why It Matters
Vocabulary knowledge is a strong predictor of reading comprehension
It is proven
Supports equity by bridging language gaps tied to opportunity, not ability
Directly influences writing quality, test performance, and content understanding
Empowers students to speak and think with precision and confidence
If students don’t understand the words, they can’t understand the text — or fully participate in the learning.
🧠 Strategy Checklist
🧠 Strategy Checklist
🔹 BEFORE THE LESSON
☐ Identify key vocabulary (Tier 2 and Tier 3) aligned to the learning goal
☐ Pre-teach essential terms using student-friendly definitions and visuals
☐ Plan for repetition and multiple contexts — one exposure isn’t enough
☐ Choose strategies for active engagement: Frayer models, real-life connections
🔹 DURING THE LESSON
☐ Model using target vocabulary in your own academic talk
☐ Reinforce word meaning with gestures, visuals, examples, and non-examples
☐ Give students structured practice using words in speaking and writing
☐ Correct and expand student language in the moment to reinforce meaning
☐ Use tools like word walls, anchor charts, and vocabulary notebooks
🔹 AFTER THE LESSON
☐ Spiral vocabulary review through games, exit slips, or mini-assessments
☐ Reinforce vocabulary in new units, texts, or subject areas
☐ Give students opportunities to revise writing or retell ideas using target words
☐ Encourage peer feedback that includes vocabulary use
☐ Reassess which words stuck — reteach or re-expose as needed
👀 Look-Fors
👀 Look-Fors
Vocabulary is clearly introduced, revisited, and applied
Students use new words in discussion, writing, and problem-solving
Academic word walls and visuals are current and referenced
Teachers explicitly model and reinforce target vocabulary
Students are expected to explain and use terms in their own words
📈Continuum of Practice
📈Continuum of Practice
FOUNDATIONAL
Teacher:
Teacher references vocabulary passively or sporadically.
EMERGING
Teacher:
Teacher introduces vocabulary but with limited repetition or application.
PROFICIENT
Teacher:
Teacher teaches Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary with modeling, visuals, and practice.
TRANSFORMING
Teacher:
Teacher integrates vocabulary across content and encourages student-generated word learning.
Student:
Students may encounter unfamiliar words without support.
Student:
Students recognize words but struggle to use them meaningfully.
Student:
Students confidently use and apply target vocabulary in speaking and writing.
Student:
Students self-monitor vocabulary growth, seek word meaning, and transfer terms across contexts.
🗃️ Structures
🗃️ Structures
direct instruction
direct instruction
Support teacher-led modeling and explicit word teaching.
3-2-1 Word Intro: Introduce a word with 3 examples, 2 visuals, and 1 student-friendly definition
Say It, Show It, Use It: Students pronounce the word, act it out, and use it in context
Concept Map or Frayer Model: Organize meaning through definitions, examples, and non-examples
word practice
word practice
Create meaningful opportunities to apply, review, and internalize vocabulary.
Word Sorts: Sort words by meaning, part of speech, or Tier
Vocabulary Journals: Students illustrate, define, and reflect on word use
Quick Writes / Exit Slips: Include target vocabulary in short response writing
Academic Conversation: Scaffold with sentence stems that require word use (e.g., “I would argue that…”)
environmental structures
environmental structures
Make vocabulary visually accessible and part of classroom culture.
Interactive Word Walls: Sorted by content area or tier, with visuals and examples
Anchor Charts: Strategy charts or word connections posted near content zones
Student-Created Displays: Post student definitions, drawings, or usage examples
Reusable Word Banks: Laminate frequently used words or connect to QR code pronunciation guides
Report abuse