Vocabulary Instructional Sequence
Thought I’d share my grades 4–8 comprehensive vocabulary instructional sequence. Includes multiple meanings, Greek and Latin morphology, word relationships, figures of speech, connotations, and academic language: Grades 4-8 Vocabulary Instructional Sequence
All too often we tend to teach the same content over and over again, or we skip teaching the content because we assume the previous grade-level teacher “must have covered it.” We generally work well in grade-level teams, but rarely have the chance to plan with other teachers at the same school, the previous or next school, or among departments and special programs. This document remedies these realities with systematic and coordinated vocabulary content. Note that although it tells teachers “what to teach”; it does not tell teachers “how to teach it.” The “what to teach” vocabulary instructional sequence aligns perfectly with the Common Core Standards L. 4, 5, and 6.
The vocabulary instructional sequence planning document provides specific vocabulary words to teach each instructional vocabulary component (except figures of speech) for twice-per-week explicit vocabulary instruction. Words have been chosen according to frequency studies when possible. The instructional components mirror the old Common Core Anchor Standards for Language L. 4, 5, and 6. Although many have faulted areas of the Common Core State Standards and states have tended to adopt their own standards, I’ve never heard any complaints about the vocabulary standards. After all, who would have issues with contributing author, Isabel Beck and colleagues? https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib/CA01000043/Centricity/domain/219/ccss%20docs/ELA%20Appendix%20A.pdf
The vocabulary instructional sequence also corresponds to my grades 4-8 Comprehensive Vocabulary programs. What a great vertical alignment with the separate grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 programs! No repeats.
Comprehensive Vocabulary
Here’s how your students will master each slice of the vocabulary pie with one or more of these grade-level programs:
Multiple Meanings
Students practice grade-level homonyms (same spelling and sound) in context clue sentences which show the different meanings and function (part of speech) for each word.
Greek and Latin Morphology
Three criteria were applied to choose the grade-level prefixes, bases, and suffixes:
1. Frequency research 2. Utility for grade-level Tier 2 words 3. Word Part Memory Pairs
Each odd-numbered vocabulary worksheet pairs a Greek or Latin prefix-base or base-suffix combination to enhance memorization and to demonstrate utility of the Greek and Latin word parts.
Students review spelling patterns (orthography), pronunciations, and meanings in Google slides (or print) by creating word matrices with drag and drop prefixes, bases, and suffixes and spelling the Greek and Latin word parts, using word sums.
Students add each of the 54 Greek and Latin word parts to personal Greek and Latin Morphology Walls, lesson by lesson, and drag and drop to create new academic language words with the word parts that have mastered to orthographic memory.
Language Resources
Students look up the Greek and Latin whole word in a dictionary (print or online) to compare and contrast their educated guesses to the denotative definition of the word. Students divide the vocabulary word into syl/la/bles, mark its primary áccent, list its part of speech, and write its primary definition.
Additionally, students write synonyms, antonyms, or inflected forms of the word, using either the dictionary or thesaurus (print or online). This activity helps students develop a more precise understanding of the word.
Figures of Speech
Students learn a variety of figures of speech (non-literal expression used by a certain group of people). The Standards assign specific types of figures of speech to each grade level. Students must interpret sentences which use the figures of speech on the biweekly unit tests.
Word Relationships
Students use context clue strategies to figure out the different meanings of homonyms in our Multiple Meaning Words section. In the Word Relationships section, students must apply context clues strategies to show the different meanings of word pairs. After students have mastered decoding, the program’s Context Clues Strategies will help students problem-solve the meanings of unknown words in their reading.
Students learn two new grade-level vocabulary words which have similar denotative meanings, but different connotative meanings. From the provided definitions, students write these new words on a semantic spectrum to fit in with two similar words, which most of your students will already know. For example, the two new words, abundant and scarce would fit in with the already known words, plentiful and rare in this semantic order: abundant–plentiful–scarce–rare.
Academic Language
Tier 2 words (academic vocabulary) should be a key focus of vocabulary instruction. The Academic Language section of the vocabulary lessons provides two grade-level words from the research-based Academic Word List. Students use the Frayer model four square (definition, synonym, antonym, and example-characteristic-picture) method to learn these words. The Common Core authors and reading specialists (like me) refer to this process as learning vocabulary with depth of instruction. And, yes, there is a research-based vocabulary instructional sequence.
Vocabulary Study Guides
Vocabulary study guides align with the vocabulary instructional sequence and are provided for each of the weekly paired lessons for whole-class review, vocabulary games, and individual practice. Print back-to-back and have students fold to study.
Vocabulary Tests
Biweekly vocabulary tests assess both memorization and application. The first section of each test is simple matching. The second section of each test requires students to apply the vocabulary in the writing context. Answers follow.
Syllable Blending, Syllable Worksheets, and Derivatives Worksheets
Whole class syllable blending “openers” will help your students learn the rules of structural analysis, including proper pronunciation, syllable division, accent placement, and derivatives. Each “opener” includes a Syllable Worksheet and a Derivatives Worksheet for individual practice. Answers follow.
Context Clues Strategies
Students learn how to look to surrounding word clues to decipher the meanings of unknown words. Context clue worksheets will help students master the Context Clue Strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use Resources
Greek and Latin word parts lists, vocabulary review games, vocabulary steps, and semantic spectrums provide additional vocabulary instructional resources and support the vocabulary instructional sequence.
Students who complete each of the Comprehensive Vocabulary Grades 4–8 grade-level programs will have practiced and learned much of the Academic Word Corpus and all of the skills of vocabulary acquisition. These students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of academic language and will be well-equipped to apply the skills of context clues strategies and structural analysis to read well and write with precision. The vocabulary instructional sequence will ensure that your students make grade-to-grade progress.
Get the Grades 4,5,6,7,8 Vocabulary Sequence of Instruction FREE Resource:
