LINCS Vocabulary
Strategy
What is the LINCS Strategy?
 A more effective and efficient way of learning new
vocabulary.
 The 5 LINCS steps cue students to focus on critical
elements of a vocabulary word.





List the Parts
Identify a Reminding Word
Note a LINCing Story
Create a LINCing picture
Self-Test
Chain Analogy
Different pieces
of knowledge
are linked
together like a
chain.
When you apply the LINCS
Strategy to a word you need to
remember, you create a strong
chain between the word and its
meaning.
Many times, if you can remember the
information in one of the links in a chain,
you will remember information in many
of the other links.
The stronger the links between
pieces of information, the easier
you can remember them. The
weaker the links, the more
difficulty you’ll have
remembering them.
What are the Results?
Mean Percentage Correct on Social Studies Vocabulary Tests
Test 1 (Before LINCS)
Test 2 (After LINCS taught in
class A)
LD Students in Class A
53%
77%
NLD Students in Class A
84%
92%
All Students in Class B
86%
85%
* Theser esults are by M. Wedel, D.D. Deshler,f .B, Schumaker,& E.S.E llis, in prep., Effectso f
lnstructiono f a VocabularyS trategyi n a MainstreamC lass,L awrence,K S: Center for Researchin
Learning. Some of the LD students in this study received additional instructional time outside of
the mainstream class when they needed it to complete the practice activities.
What do I Need?
 Index cards
 LINCS cue cards
 In your packet
 Book rings (optional)
What do I do?
 All important information is recorded on a 3 x5” index
card.
 On the front and back the students will draw a
horizontal line in the center of the card.
 On the back the students will also draw a vertical line
in center of the lower half
LINCS Cards
BACK
FRONT
List the Parts
A student is learning the meaning of the word “SERF”
(a peasant who served the lord of a manor in exchange
for protection)
rf
FRONT
Write the Vocabulary word
on top and CIRCLE IT!
List the Parts
Write the definition of the word “Serf” on the top of
the back.
Peasants who served the Lord of a
manor in exchange for protection.
Identify a Reminding Word
 Students create a mnemonic device using the
“keyword” technique.
 Students say the name of the vocab. word then think
of a word they already know that rhymes OR sounds
similar.
 The reminding word is written on the bottom half of
the front side of the index card.
Identify a Reminding Word
rf
Server
In this case, “Server” sounds like “Serf” and is our reminding
word.
Note a LINCing Story
 Students generate an association between the
familiar word and the new word by creating a short
story that links the meaning of the two words in some
way.
 The student then writes the story on the bottom left
side of the back of the card.
 Underline the reminding word in the story.
 Be CREATIVE!
Note a LINCing Story
Peasants who served the Lord of a manor in
exchange for protection.
The servers at
the king’s party
made sure his
glass was always
full and were
given really
great tips!
Create a LINCing Picture
 Students transform the information into a visual
image that they describe to themselves or someone
else.
 Then draw that image on the lower right side of the
back of the card.
 Example: “I picture a fat king at a table with little
servers around him filling up his cup and he is handing
them money!”
Create a LINCing Picture
Peasants who served the Lord of a manor in exchange
for protection.
The servers at the
king’s party made
sure his glass was
always full and were
given really great
tips!
Your Turn
 Create your own LINCS card for the following words:
 Remediation
 Intervention
 Tutoring