Building A High-Utility Vocabulary Toolkit For Academic Success
Building A High-Utility Vocabulary Toolkit For Academic Success
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Components of Academic                                   English Learner Sentences
English Language Development                             Applying Newly-Taught Words
                                                                               Grade 3 Homework Sentences
• Vocabulary: concepts, technical, topic-specific
  and high-utility words used across subject areas
• Syntax: the way words are arranged in order to
  form sentences or phrases
• Grammar: the rules according to which the
  words of a langue change form and are
  combined into sentences
• Register: the style of language use or degree of
  formality reflected in word choice and grammar
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 An Academic English Learner                                                   Title 1 and the Vocabulary Gap
 Describes Literacy Challenges
                                                                               • U.S. preschoolers vocabulary exposure:
                                  “most of my classes
                                  that I have I havn’t                           • College educated, professional families: 2,250
                                  learned anything                               • Not college educated, working class families:
                                  because my teacher                               1,250
                                  donn’t explain good                            • Welfare families: 620
                                  what is the meaning
                                  of the words”                                    Flynn, James R. (2008). Where Have All the Liberals
                                                                                     Gone?: Race, Class, and Ideals in America.
                                  Miguel (Grade 8, 6 years in U.S. schools)          Cambridge University Press: 102
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Effective Vocabulary Instruction                                               Vocabulary Knowledge Rating:
Improves Reading & Test Scores                                                 collocation, polysemous
. . . Highly targeted, effective and                                           ①I’ve never seen or heard the word __.
persistent vocabulary instruction can
greatly improve reading ability, test                                          ②I recognize the word __ but need to
scores and content attainment for both                                          learn how to use it.
native English speakers and English                                            ③I can use the word __ in a sentence.
language learners.                                                              For example, __.
                                                                               ④I can define the word__ for the class
  (Beck et al, 2002; Carlo et al, 2004; August & Shanahan, 2006)
                                                                                and effectively use it in a sentence.
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Word Knowledge Does Not Operate                                                Word Knowledge Operates
Like a Conventional Light Switch                                               Like a Dimmer Switch
                                                                                                        Word knowledge exists
                                   The lexical light is                                                 on a continuum, ranging
                                   either on or off;                                                    from remote familiarity,
                                   You know a word                                                      to basic understanding,
                                   or you don’t.                                                        to lexical dexterity –
                                                                                                        complex understanding
                                                                                                        and agile application in
                                                                                                        both speech and writing.
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A prefix provides information about              p.7   Receptive Word Knowledge
the meaning of a word.
                                                       • Words we recognize or understand when
 •read                verb                               we see or hear them.
 •preread             verb                             • Words we associate with some meaning
 •reread              verb                               even if we don’t know the full range of
                                                         definitions, connotations, or ever use them
 •misread             verb                               when we speak and write.
 •pseudoread          verb                             • Typically much larger than productive
 •postread            verb                               vocabulary knowledge.
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What does it mean to “know” the                         What does it mean to “know” the
high-utility academic word accurate?                    high-utility academic word accurate?
(1 of 3)                                                (2 of 3)
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What does it mean to “know” the                           High-Utility Academic Word                                                                                                            p.11
high-utility academic word accurate?                      Notetaking Guide: accurate
                                                            Name                                                                                      Date
(3 of 3)
                                                             1         Word                     Meaning                               Examples                                     Images
• Connotations: accurate (positive);                                accurate               synonym:                   You can get an accurate
  inaccurate (negative).                                             ac•cu•rate            correct                    measurement of your height and
                                                                     adjective                                        ____________________ at the
                                                                      _________
                                                                                           in every detail            It is important to include
                                                          • A research-informed, classroom-tested,
                                                                 Several                                      influence my interest in a book, especially
  accomplish a specific lesson task.                        student actions that are regularly followed to
   Sample Vocabulary Teaching Strategies                    address a specific instructional goal.
   • “Guessing” Meaning from Context                         Sample Vocabulary Instructional Routines
   • Words Sorts                                             • Teaching Major Lesson Concepts
   • Vocabulary Bingo                                        • Teaching Topic-Focused Words
   • Four-Square                                             • Teaching High-Utility Academic Words
   • Crossword Puzzles                                       • Context Analysis to Determine Word Meaning
   • Original Sentences & Pictures                           • Quick Teach Routine for Low-Incidence Words
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Vocabulary Teaching Routine:                                                                                                                                           Vocabulary Teaching Routine:
High-Utility Academic Words (1 of 2)                                                                                                                                   High-Utility Academic Words (2 of 2)
• Guide students in reading and pronouncing the                                                                                                                        • Structure a framed verbal task with an engaging
  word a few times.                                                                                                                                                      context to create some “vocabulary Velcro”.
• Have students clap/tap out the syllables.                                                                                                                       Name
                                                                                                                                                                       • Model an appropriate response with the frame.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Date
                                     3. Students repeat
                                                                                                                                                                  Name factor                   one of many                  Texting while driving is Date
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      a major
                                     4. Provide part of speech
                                     5. Syllabify
                                                                                                                                                                        fac•tor                 things that        factor in many teen car
                                     6. Students repeat                                                                                                                        noun             ____________ or ________________________.
                                     7. Provide a student-friendly definition                                                                                      1           Word             affectMeaning
                                                                                                                                                                                                       a situation            Examples                                                    Images
                                     8. Students repeat definition and fill in blank(s)                                                                                                                            A good night’s sleep and a
                                     9. Model example #1 visibly displayed                                                                                                                                                   nutritious breakfast are key
                                                                                                                                                                           accurate
                                                                                                                                                                            ________              synonym:                   You can get an accurate
                                     10. Students repeat example and fill in blank(s)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             factors in a student’s
                                   11. Model example #1 visibly displayed                                                                                                   ac•cu•rate            correct                    measurement of your height and
                                                                                                                                                                              ________                                       performance on ___________.
                                   12. Students repeat meaning and fill in blank(s)                                                                                          adjective                                       ____________________ at the
                                                                                                                                                                                                  right or 100%              doctor’s office.
                                 Transition to Verbal Practice
                                                                                                                                                                  ! Verbal Practice (Think-Pair-Share-Write):
                                                                                                                                                                                       _____________
                                   1. Introduce frame for verbal practice visibly displayed, include model response                                                    One _________
                                                                                                                                                                           of the most important
                                                                                                                                                                                          in everyfactors
                                                                                                                                                                                                    detail whenIt Iispurchase
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      importanta togiftinclude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         for a friend is the
     Phase 2: Verbal Practice
                                     3. Direct attention to grammatical target(s) (underline, highlight)                                                           2           Word                    Meaning                              Examples                                      Images
                                     4. Prompt students to consider a response, allowing adequate think time
                                     5. Direct students to write appropriate word form and content in the frame                                                              factor             one of many                  Texting while driving is a major
                                     6. Cue partner (A/B, 1/2) to read response to partner (twice)
                                                                                                                                                                              fac•tor           things that                  factor in many teen car
                                     7. Circulate listening, providing feedback
                                     8. Cue partners to switch and read each other’s sentence (continue circulating)                                                           noun             cause
                                                                                                                                                                                                ____________ or accidents
                                                                                                                                                                                                                ________________________.
                                 Transition to reporting                                                                                                                                        affect a situation                          1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A good night’s sleep and a
                                     9. Elicit reporting with frame, visibly displayed                                                                                                                                                  2
                                   10. Cue preselected students to report                                                                                                     factor
                                                                                                                                                                              ________                                       nutritious breakfast are key
                                   11. Elicit additional responses                                                                                                                                                           factors in a student’s
 !                                                                                                                                                                            factor
                                                                                                                                                                              ________                                                      exams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             performance on ___________.
                                 © Kate Kinsella, Ed. D. 2013 ~ All rights reserved. Do not modify or distribute electronically without permission.!
                                                                                                                                                                  ! Verbal Practice (Think-Pair-Share-Write):
                                                                                                                                                                       One of the most important factors when I purchase a gift for a friend is the
© Kate Kinsella, Ed. D. 2018 ~ All rights reserved. Do not modify or distribute electronically without permission.
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                                                  •I select __.
                                                  •I choose __.
                                                  •I nominate __.
                                                  •I would like to hear from __.
                                                  •I’m interested in __’s response.
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Writing Practice with                                      High-Utility Academic Word                                                                                                                  p.11
          factors
Several _________      influence my                                     _________
                                                                                             _____________
                                                                                             antonym:
                                                                                                                        sweet-tasting citrus fruits.
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similar (adjective)
                                                                  Two                                of using a laptop or tablet to write in class are being able to
many students arrive with                                 • Write a sentence frame that can be completed in
                                                            many ways using students’ background knowledge.
similar ___ (plural noun).                                • Prepare a model response that you anticipate
                                                            students will not come up with on their own.
           • haircuts                                     • Embed a grammatical target.
           • eyeglasses
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Embed Grammatical Targets in                              Writing Prompt Expectations                                                                                                                  p.13
Sentence Frames for New Words                             (appropriate word use and content)
 Target Word: portion (noun)
 • I wish the cafeteria served two __ of __.
                                                           PROMPT: What are key factors
 • A healthy diet includes several __ of __.               a parent must consider before
 • For dinner we usually eat one __ of __.                 leaving a child at home alone?
 Target Word: respond (verb)                               Construct a thoughtful response in
 • A kind teacher always __ to students’ questions         academic register that includes
   in a __ manner.
 • When the bell rang, I __ by immediately __.
                                                           relevant examples.
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Constructed Response Frame                                                                                                             p.13       Informational Text Analysis                                                   p.3-4
(with highlighted grammatical targets)                                                                                                            Academic Vocabulary Types
                                                                                                                                                  (Source: Adolescent Sleep Research (Gable & Kinsella, 2013).
• A parent must _________ several _______                                                                                                         Topic-Focused & Technical (Tier 3)             High-Utility Academic (Tier 2)
                                                                                                                                                  • adolescent                                    • assume
 before leaving a child at home alone. For                                                                                                        • puberty                                       • conclude
                                                                                                                                                  • Circadian Clock                               • factor
 example, one key ___________ a parent                                                                                                            • forbidden zones                               • sufficient/insufficient
                                                                                                                                                  • binge sleeping                                • influence
 should __________ is the child’s _______.                                                                                                        • mood swings                                   • lead to
                                                                                                                                                  • depression                                    • variety
 Another important ___________ is how
                                                                                                                                                  • sleep deprivation                             • regulate
 ____________ the child usually is at home.                                                                                                       • melatonin                                     • content
          (1)   In recent years researchers have                                long time, they naturally get sleepy and fall
         concluded that the average ADOLESCENT                                  asleep. Now they realize that circadian
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  Informational Text:
         in America does not get enough sleep during
         the week. Many factors can influence an
         adolescent’s ability to get a good night’s
                                                                                clocks set our sleeping patterns. Many teens
                                                                                experience something similar to the jet lag of
                                                                                long distance travelers. Even though teens
                                                                                                                                       p.3-4
                                                                                                                                                Priority Academic Competencies
  Highlighted Vocabulary Analysis
         sleep before tackling a challenging school                             may have experienced a physically active
         day. However, no matter what the specific                              and intellectually demanding day, falling
         reasons are, it is clear that insufficient sleep
         can lead to a variety of physical, emotional
  Upper Case = Topic-Focused & Technical
         and academic problems.
                                                                                asleep can be challenging. The circadian
                                                                                clock keeps them alert just when other people
                                                                                Lower Case = High-Utility
                                                                                get sleepy.
                                                                                                                                                for High-Utility Word Instruction
         (2) Sleep researchers began studying teen                              (5)     The National Sleep Foundation
         sleep patterns in the 1980s. They found that                           contends that American teenagers actually
                                                                                                                                                    •Sequence                         • Cause/Effect
         sleepy considerably later than others, so                              Moreover, more than 25% of adolescents
         going to bed earlier hardly makes a                                    sleep 6.5 hours or fewer on school nights.
         difference.
                                                                                (6)      Going to bed earlier does not
         (3) People need different amounts of sleep                             necessarily assure that a teenager will get
         in different stages of life. Babies and
         children require many hours of deep sleep.
         Until age ten most children wake up fresh and
                                                                                additional sleep. The circadian clock
                                                                                creates "FORBIDDEN ZONES" when falling
                                                                                asleep is almost impossible. For many teens
                                                                                                                                                    •Compare                          • Create
         energetic. At PUBERTY, however, the                                    the forbidden zone is in the evening hours.
         body’s clock which regulates sleeping and
         waking hours changes. This delay in the
         body’s “CIRCADIAN CLOCK” causes teens
                                                                                Therefore, even if teens go to their rooms
                                                                                relatively early, they do not usually go to
                                                                                sleep promptly. Instead, they tend to read,
                                                                                play games, listen to music or send text
                                                                                                                                                    •Argue                            • Infer
         to be wide awake at 9 or 10 p.m. when
         people of other ages are typically getting                             messages to friends until they start to get
         tired. The hormone melatonin, which                                    tired at 11 p.m. or later.
         regulates sleep in humans, does not enter
         teens’ bodies until around 11 p.m. As a                                (7)     Surprisingly, sleeping for a long time
         result, adolescents tend to become drowsy                              on weekends does not remedy the problem.
         and fall asleep later much than children or                            Researchers refer to that as "BINGE
         adults. The hormone melatonin remains in                               SLEEPING." Teens catch up on sleep, but
         their systems until around 8 a.m. If teens get                         they do not establish a healthy sleeping
         up early for zero period classes such as jazz                          pattern. If a teen sleeps until noon or 2:00
         band and AP chemistry starting as early as                             p.m., the brain recognizes that as a time for
         7:00 a.m., they arrive to school semi-awake.                           sleep. When Monday morning comes again,
         More seriously, they are losing critical hours                         the brain is still on the wrong schedule. Thus,
         of sleep night after school night.                                     schools may begin bright and early, but
                                                                                teenage brains do not wake up until
         (4)  For many years scientists have                                    considerably later in the day.
         assumed that after people are awake for a
                  © Kate Kinsella, Ed. D. 2013 ~ All rights reserved. Do not modify or distribute electronically without permission.
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Academic Word Family Chart:                                                                                                             p.8     Academic Word Family Chart:                                                        p.8
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High-Utility Academic Vocabulary                                                                                                                                                                p.5-6
Well-Organized Word Wall                                                                                                                     Coxhead’s Academic Word List
                                                                                                                                              Group 1/10 (Highest Incidence):
                                                                                                                                                  analyze assume benefit concept
                                                                                                                                                  consist context economy environment
                                                                                                                                                  establish estimate factor finance
                                                                                                                                                  formula function income indicate
                                                                                                                                                  individual interpret involve issue labor
                                                                                                                                                  legal major method occur percent
                                                                                                                                                  principle section significant similar
                                                                                                                                                  source specific structure . . .
                                                                                                                                              word family: assume, v. assumption, n.
                                                                                                                                              •              Source: (Averil Coxhead, 2000)
                                                                                                                             49               •
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Build Receptive Word Knowledge:                                                                                                             Build Receptive Word Knowledge:
Replace Everyday Direction Words                                                                                                            Replace Everyday Direction Words
 Everyday Terms                                             Academic Terms                                                                  Everyday Terms        Academic Terms
 • Answer                                                   • Respond, Elaborate                                                            • Answer              • Contribution, Response
 • Finish                                                   • Complete, Develop                                                             • Idea/Thought        • Opinion, Perspective
 • Repeat                                                   • Restate, Review                                                               • Information         • Evidence, Data, Facts
 • Talk about                                               • Discuss, Interact                                                             • Guess               • Prediction, Hypothesis
 • Share                                                    • Report, Contribute                                                            • Reason              • Justification, Conclusion
 •Questions
   Think    to Plan Vocabulary Instruction
             about                         to Support Text
                                    • Consider,            Comprehension,
                                                       Contemplate
         Academic Discussion, and Constructed Written Responses                                                                             • Steps               • Solution, Process, Sequence
                                                                                                                                            • Thinking            • Analysis, Interpretation
 Domain-Specific Vocabulary: (Conceptual, Technical, Topic-Centric)
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   1. Which words are most vital to understanding the central lesson concepts
      and key ideas/messages in the text?
   4. How much prior knowledge will students have about this word or its                                                               53                                                            54
 Questions
     related concepts?
                       to Prioritize Words for                                                                                p.2
                                                                                                                                            Vocabulary Development Priorities
 Robust, Intentional
  5. Is the word encountered                 Instruction
                             frequently in academic contexts?
                                                                                                                                            • Pre-teach lesson concepts and topic words.
 High-Utility Vocabulary: (Widely-Used Across Academic Disciplines)
                                                                                                                                            • Explicitly teach high-utility vocabulary using a
   1. What high-utility academic words are included in this literary text passage                                                             consistent, interactive routine.
      or informational text section that are synonyms for more commonplace
      words students will no doubt already know (e.g., insufficient, not enough;                                                            • Prioritize words for more robust instruction.
      issue, problem; essential, necessary; perspective, idea/opinion)?
                                                                                                                                            • Teach words beyond text-based selections.
   2. What high-utility academic words are included in text analysis and
      discussion questions or related writing prompts that will be necessary for                                                            • Design verbal and written application tasks
      students to respond competently on lesson tasks or assessments?                                                                         to promote productive word knowledge.
   3. Is it sufficient for students to simply recognize and understand this word                                                            • Teach words aligned with critical academic
      (receptive vocabulary) or will they need to competently use this word
      (productive vocabulary) at this stage of 1st or 2nd language development?
                                                                                                                                              speaking and writing competencies.
   4. Does the word have another high-frequency meaning that I should
      address (is the word polysemous - e.g., critical (judgmental vs. crucial)?
   5. Does the word have high-frequency word family members that I should
      point out (e.g., analyze, verb; analysis, noun; analytical, adjective)
   6. Which words can easily be figured out from the context/text resources
      during either independent or teacher-mediated reading?
        © Kate Kinsella, Ed. D. 2013 ~ All rights reserved. Do not modify or distribute electronically without permission.
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                                                                       st   nd   rd
Teacher ______________ Period ___ Observation Cycle: 1 , 2 , 3                        ___ Observer _____________ Date ____
                                                                                                                                          Vocabulary Knowledge
    prepared to teach new words
    Provides note-taking support (a guide, a graphic organizer, etc.)
                                                                                                                                          •Expose
    Directs students’ attention to the word (on board, in text, etc.)                              Focus on instructional
                                                                                                   visuals (handout, board)
    Supports verbal instruction with visuals (handout, board, etc.)
                                                                                              v    Repeat when prompted
    Pronounces the new word clearly a few times
                                                                                              v    Write when prompted
    Breaks a polysyllabic word into syllables (on board, clapping, etc.)
                                                                                                                                              •Enrich
                                                                                                   Focus on task, not idle or
    Guides students in reading and pronouncing the word a few times                                doing something else
    Points out the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)
    Provides the Spanish cognate (if appropriate for the students)
    Explains the meaning succinctly using familiar language
    Provides student-friendly accessible examples
                                                                                                                                                  •Equip
Structured Student Use of Target Words                                                       Application of Target Words
    Structures word use with a verbal task and sentence frame                                 v    Share sentence(s) with partner
    Models (spoken and written models) using the sentence frame                               v    Respond appropriately
    Partners students to share sentences using the new word                                       Appear to understand the
                                                                                                  word meaning
    Monitors students’ verbal and written responses
                                                                                              v    Listen actively to shared
    Calls on a number of students to share responses with class                                    responses
© Kate Kinsella, Ed. D. 2017 ~ All rights reserved. Do not modify or distribute electronically without permission.
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