Standard 4: Vocabulary

Students will expand their working vocabularies to effectively communicate and understand texts.

10.4.R.5 Students will use a dictionary, glossary, or a thesaurus (print and/or electronic) to determine or clarify the meanings, syllabication, pronunciation, synonyms, parts of speech, and etymology of words or phrases.

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will use a dictionary, glossary, and thesaurus to clarify misconceptions of word meanings

• Students will utilize appropriate print and digital reference to gain a better understanding of the word including syllables, pronunciations, synonyms, parts of speech, and word etymologies.

• Teachers provide multiple resources for students to look up words that might need to be clarified or defined.
• Teachers monitor correct usage of the print or digital dictionary, glossary, or thesaurus.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to research words in order to clarify meaning.
• Teachers monitor and provide opportunities for students to receive feedback when using print or digital resources.  

Supporting Resources 

Teacher Insights 

• Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

• Cultural influences may greatly impact the meaning of words. The context of the passage should always be addressed and considered when determining the meaning of words.

• By gaining a better understanding of the syllabication, pronunciation, parts of speech and etymology of words and phrases, students will be able to clarify the meaning of unknown words and the passage as a whole.

• Students should be able to distinguish between common reference materials and their purposes:

• Dictionary - guidance on spelling/grammar/denotation

• Thesaurus - provides lists for strengthening word choice or for finding words with more appropriate connotations, and synonyms to avoid repetitive writing

• Glossary - list of terms related to the specific text or domain that will define or clarify difficult, unknown, or unusual words and expressions used in a text

• When using reference material, students often want to choose the first definition they see. The context and implied tone must be considered when clarifying multiple meaning words.

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.