Unpacked
L.3.4 a
Standard:
L.3.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and
phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibility from a range of
strategies.
a. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
Unpacked Standard: The overall focus of language learning in regards to vocabulary
acquisition is to guide students as they make purposeful language choices in writing and
speaking in order to communicate effectively in a wide range of print and digital texts. Students
need to understand the diversity in standard English and the ways authors use formal and
informal voice (dialects, registers) to craft their message for specific purposes. Students also
need strategies for learning to make these kinds of choices for themselves as they write and
speak in different contexts and for different purposes.
What students need to know:
 the meaning of a context clue
 how to use context clues to determine
the meaning of a word or phrase
Reading
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Emerging
Developing
Expanding
Bridging
Clarify the
Clarify the
Clarify the
Clarify the
meaning of
meaning of
meaning of
meaning of
unknown
unknown
unknown words unknown
words with a
words with a with a partner
words with a
partner using partner using using sentence
partner using
sentence level sentence
level context as sentence level
context as a
level context a clue to the
context as a
clue to the
as a clue to
meaning of a
clue to the
meaning of a
the meaning word or phrase meaning of a
word or
of a word or
by reading text
word or
phrase by
phrase by
that has only
phrase by
using a
reading text
the clue words
reading text.
picture to
that has the
highlighted.
Students show
understand
clues and
evidence of
the text that
unknown
what clues
has the clues
word
were used to
and unknown highlighted.
support their
word
understanding.
highlighted.
ELD Standard: English language learners communicate information, ideas and
concepts necessary for academic success in the content of Language Arts.
Level 6 Reaching
Level 1
Entering
Clarify the
meaning of
unknown
words with a
partner and
teacher support
using sentence
level context
clues by
matching
pictures to
highlighted
selected text
(clues/unknown
word).
What students need to do:
 identify the unfamiliar word/phrase
 look for context clues in the text to help
define the meaning of the unknown
words