Addressing Vocabulary across the
Content Areas
Developing Effective Practices in
Vocabulary Instruction
INCREASE
1. Time for reading
2. Use of varied and rich texts
3. Opportunities for students to
hear or use words in natural
sentence contexts
4. Use of concrete contexts when
possible (pictures, artifacts)
5. Opportunities for students to use
words in meaningful ways
6. Study of concepts rather than
single, unrelated words
7. Explicit concept instruction and
incident encounters with words
8. Teaching methods as strategies
leading to independent word
learning
9. Finding the word or concept
which will have the biggest
impact on comprehension rather
than covering many words in a
surface manner
10. Opportunities for inference
DECREASE
1. Looking up definitions as a
single source of word
knowledge
2. Asking students to write
sentences for new words prior
to their having in-depth study
of the word
3. Notion that all words in a text
need to t be defined for
comprehension
4. Using context as highly
reliable tool for increasing
comprehension
5. Assessments that ask student
for single definitions
@ Janet Allen
Rules for Vocabulary Instruction…
Rule #1:
Select words in context.
Rule #2:
Select words based on your assessment of your students.
Rule #3:
Teach students to use the dictionary and thesaurus.
Rule #4:
Teach students textbook supports such as the table of contents, glossary, index,
sidebars, and graphics.
Rule #5:
Teach students strategies for when they don’t know a word…
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Look at the word in relation to the sentence.
Look the word up in a dictionary.
Ask the teacher or someone around you.
Sound it out.
Read the sentence again.
Look for other words in the sentence that might help you with the meaning.
Think about what makes sense.
Look for a picture near the word that may help you.
Skip the word and read on.
Read the sentence out loud with emphasis on that word.
Janet Allen
Words, Words, Words
Rules for Vocabulary Instruction…
Rule #6
Teach context clues.
Types of Context Clues
a. Definition: word is defined or explained in the sentence
Signal clues: and, or, punctuation marks
Previewing, or looking over something before you read, is a good reading strategy
b. Example: word serves as a model for another unknown word that has the same meaning
Hazing is an example of a humiliating act done by another person to someone else.
c. Comparison: word is compared to a person, place, idea, or event with the same
characteristics
Signal clues: like, as
Kathy is skilled with her hands like her dexterous brother.
d. Contrast: word is contrasted to a person, place, idea, or event with opposite characteristics
Kathy is lugubrious unlike her brother who is always happy.
e. Description: word defined states specific details about person, place, idea, or event
According to Greek myths, a griffin usually has a head and wings of an eagle and a body of a
lion.
f. Synonym: word has the same meaning as the unfamiliar word
Signal clues: likewise, similarly
To disparage is to belittle or making someone feel inferior.
g. Antonym: word being defined has the opposite meaning to that unfamiliar word
Signal clues: but, however
Her mother is outgoing and social, but his father is quiet and introverted.
Rule #7:
Teach structural analysis (prefixes, suffixes, and root words).
Root/Suffix/Prefix Study Sheet
Root/Suffix/Prefix
Root/Suffix/Prefix
Definition
Definition
Words
Words
Root/Suffix/Prefix
Root/Suffix/Prefix
Definition
Definition
Words
Words
Rules for Vocabulary Instruction…
Rule #8:
Don’t pre-teach too many vocabulary words before reading a selection.
How Well do I Know these Words?
Don’t know
at all
Have seen or
heard—don’t
know the
meaning
I think I know
the meaning
I know the
meaning
@Janet Allen
Rule #9:
Link students pre-existing knowledge to new words.
Rule #10:
Use graphic organizers.
Rule #11:
Talk about the literal or denotative meaning and the figurative or connotative meaning.
Rule #12:
Fill your school and classroom with words
Rule #13
Play word games.
Pictionary, Charades, Vocabulary bingo, Scavenger hunt with word wall,
Flyswatter game, Jeopardy, Magic Squares
BIG IDEAS
Idea
What causes this?
How are people affected?
What other words remind you of this word?
How have you seen this in history?
How have you seen this today?
Where have you seen this idea in other books or in the media?
Adapted from Janet Allen
Concept Pattern
@ R.J. Marzano, D.J. Pickering, et al, Dimension of Learning, 2nd edition
Example
Example
Characteristic
Concept
Characteristic
Characteristic
Example
Example
Example
Example
Word
Sentence Found In
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Definition
Example
Picture/Symbol
Example
Example
Personal Connection
(Use the new word in a sentence using the terms I, me, we, my, or us.)
Word
Sentence Found In
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Definition
Example
Picture/Symbol
Example
Example
Personal Connection
(Use the new word in a sentence using the terms I, me, we, my, or us.)
Essential Characteristics
What it Looks Like
Examples
Why It’s Important
Word
Definition
What does it look like?
Examples
A way that I’ll remember this word is…
Word Jar Slip
Student Name: ____________________________________________________________
Word: __________________________________________________________________
Sentence Found In: _______________________________________________________
I think it means: __________________________________________________________
Where I found it: _________________________________________________________