Standard 4: Vocabulary

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

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will continue to utilize appropriate print and digital reference material to clarify word meanings and usage.

• Teachers provide multiple resources for students to look up words that might need to be clarified or defined.
• Teachers provide students access to a variety of resource materials.
• Teachers explain how the changes in word meaning can affect their reading of a text.
• Teachers allow students time 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. In addition in 11th and 12th grades, students should also use specialized reference materials to suit various tasks and purposes.

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.