Approximate time to complete: 50 minutes
Download the Course Companion document before starting this course. You can use the Companion Document to take notes on your learning, address reflection prompts, and as an easy way to retrieve course resources.
Consider This Scenario
Connection Point
In your Course Companion, consider these questions:
- Can you relate to this scenario? In what ways are your challenges in literacy instruction similar or different?
Mr. Tillman is an eighth grade social studies teacher who is working on a new unit in American history. Over the last few months he has introduced his students to dozens of new, complex vocabulary words. He typically gives them a worksheet at the beginning of a unit, asks them to look up the definition in their text book or on the internet, and quizzes them on the words at least once before the exam. While some students seem to get the meanings of the words through this process, Mr. Tillman notices that many students either do not understand key words and concepts or use the terms in very superficial ways. He wants to find a more effective way to teach vocabulary while still maintaining the pace of their learning, but he is not sure exactly what to do.
What is NOT Explicit Vocabulary Instruction?
This course will cover several approaches to explicit vocabulary instruction that can increase students' ability to access complex grade-level texts. It is helpful to identify elements of vocabulary instruction that are common but may not be helpful for students. Explicit vocabulary instruction should not include:
- Memorizing long lists of words
- Looking in the dictionary as the primary method of learning new vocabulary
- A single quiz or exam to assess learning
- Assessing vocabulary knowledge by asking students to write out the definitions of a list of words
- Vocabulary words disconnected from course content
Explicit Vocabulary Instruction in Middle and High School with Joan Sedita
This video by Joan Sedita, covers why vocabulary is important for adolescent students and shares some strategies for explicitly teaching vocabulary. There is a place in your Course Companion to take notes.
Knowledge Check
Take the following short quiz to test your knowledge of explicit vocabulary instruction. Click on the square button to expand the quiz.
Resources
The IES Practice Guide, Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices, provides several recommendations to strengthen literacy instruction for adolescents. Read the section "Recommendation 1. Provide Explicit Vocabulary Instruction" to learn more about the importance of vocabulary and ways to incorporate it into classroom instruction.
Answer the following questions in your Course Companion:
- Consider the recommendations from the Guide related to vocabulary instruction. What can you incorporate in your classroom or building? What are some potential barriers to implementation?
Course Reflection
Answer the following question in your course companion:
- Consider your learning from this course and your current approach to vocabulary instruction. Which of your current approaches are affirmed by the course? Which approaches might you want to add?
- What questions do you continue to have about vocabulary instruction? What resources or people might help you to answer these questions?
To Learn More
Explicit Vocabulary Instruction, Grades 6-12: Resources provides a number of helpful articles, guides and videos to support further learning in explicit vocabulary instruction.
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Last Modified: 1/7/2025 7:41:02 AM
