Elementary Coaches’ NetworkFocus on Vocabulary Instruction

October 23, 2013

Nancy Neusbaum, PIIC MentorKathleen Eich

Agenda

Complete SurveyQuotation MingleVocabulary Discussion

Quotation Mingle

Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction by Jim Knight (2007)

Be ready to share…How does your quote apply to your role as an instructional coach (IC)?

Please Do Now…

Use your picture to complete the analogy:Vocabulary is like ____ because... (Write one sentence)

Sharing…

Take turns: Show your picture and read your analogy to your partner.

Partner, make a statement to agree or disagree with the analogy.

Where are the rare words?

A rare word is defined as any word not in the 10,000 most frequently

used words in the language. (Hayes and Ahrens)

Examples of Rare Wordsbanjo fantasy numb reluctantblizzard gem oasis scoldboast glossary optional serpentcautious interrupt pantry soarconserve invade participate stimulatedebris logic peer tautedible luster porous trencheruption motto pry triggerexceed nasal quaintexert nudge refrain

Where are the unfamiliar words?

Adult TV

Mr Rogers

Comic Books

Children’s TV

Adult Books

Children’s Books

Newspapers

Cartoons/Shows

Conversation between 2 college-educated adults

Where are the unfamiliar words?

Average # of Rare Words

68.353.552.730.930.822.720.217.32.0

NewspapersComic Books

Adult Books

Children’s BooksCartoons (shows)

Adult TV

Children’s TV

Conversation between two college-educated adults

Mr. Rogers

“Cognitive Verbs and the Common Core”

1. What is your definition of Academic Vocabulary?2. Compare your definition with your partner’s.

3. Read/Skim the article from Educational Leadership by Robert Marzano.

4. Does this change your definition? How?

5. How do your teachers address academic vocabulary?

6. Share

Guidelines for Choosing Words

Limit the number you will teach in depth for eternal comprehension…just a few!

Essential subject-area words Words critical for understanding concept/text

Useful words Words student likely to see/use again and again

in many contexts and across disciplines Difficult words

Words with multiple meanings idiomatic expressions

Estimated # of Terms to Teach

Grade Level # of words per week

Total words in 32 weeks

Cumulative Total

1-3 5 160 480

2-3 10 320 1120

4-5 15 480 2,560

6-8 20 640 4,480

9 - 12 25 - 30 960 8,320

Building Background Knowledge by Marzano

Choosing words based on Tiers

Tier 3: Low-frequency words, usually specific to an academic domain & best learned in the related content area, such as isotope, photosynthesis & psychologist.

Tier 2: High-frequency words that are important for capable language learners to have in their vocabulary, such as remorse, capricious, distinguished, & devious.

Tier 1: Basic words that rarely need to be taught, such as hair, always, dress, & laugh.

Beck, I., McKeown, M., & Kucan, L. (2002)

Handout – Which Words to Teach

Tier 2 Words in Content Classes

Science unit on Earth’s Changing SurfaceSuggested Words: runoff, rills, gully,

drainage basin, divide, flood plain, tributary, meander, alluvial fan, delta, ground water, stalactite, stalagmite

Tier 2 Words to Add: process, feature, factor

Let’s Practice Choosing the Words Reading level: 8th Words: *Selected for instruction in manual

The Gift of the Magi ^Defined in text

Select 8 words for explicit instruction

discreet* imputation^ modest

ravages* parsimony^ prudence

chaste* flat^ (apartment) laboriously

cascade* mendicancy squad^ ecstatic

meretricious* Queen of Sheba^ duplicate

instigate* Coney Island conception

Handout

Let’s Practice Choosing the Words Reading level: 8th Words: *Selected for instruction in manual

The Gift of the Magi ^Defined in text

Select 8 words for explicit instruction

discreet* imputation^ modest

ravages* parsimony^ prudence

chaste* flat^ (apartment) laboriously

cascade* mendicancy squad^ ecstatic

meretricious* Queen of Sheba^ duplicate

instigate* Coney Island conception

Helping Students Become Better Word Learners

1. Model what you do when you encounter an unfamiliar word

2. Teach about the use of word parts, context clues, and definitions

3. Include strategies for dealing with unfamiliar words in your comprehension strategy instruction

4. Give explicit explanations on when and how to apply strategies

Resources on the Wiki

Vocabulary Planning toolAgenda with resources

Choosing Key Words What is the students’ background knowledge and how is

it assessed? Which words are most critical for understanding the

content? How frequently is the word encountered? Does the word require multiple strategies to

comprehend? Does the word or concept require more guided practice

before students can use it independently? What connections can be made with words students

already know? What words are difficult for students to grasp the

meaning of and are frequently misunderstood?

Let’s Practice Choosing Words

Read the text provided List the tier 2 vocabulary you would

teachCompare your list with the list of your

partner

Put your Coaching Hat on…After you have shared information about

limiting the number of words for deep vocabulary instruction, a math teacher comments that in the next unit in math there are 20 technical words highlighted in the text. This limit certainly doesn’t apply to subjects like math, right?

Turn and talk…Your response?

SummarizerWith another coach, discuss how you might

use the materials and activities shared today with your teachers?Who will you share this with?How will you share?

Jot down the beginning of your action plan.

Our elementary group takeaways…

Academic Vocabulary is…

Ticket out the DoorOn an index card, please comment on

how this session met your needs.What worked for you?What was not as meaningful for you?

What additional information or support might you need related to our topic today?

What words of wisdom do you have for us?

Our secondary group takeaways…

Academic Vocabulary is…Universal but can be content specificNeeds to be owned by someone

keich@caiu.orgnneusbaum@caiu.org