Crash Course: Teaching Academic Vocabulary

A MiddleWeb Blog

A World of Words

When I was 19, I took a couple of years off of college and moved to Rio De Janeiro, Brasil. Despite having studied Portuguese for only two months, I was confident in my ability to quickly master the language. How hard could it be?…I thought.

The moment my plane touched down, however, reality set in. I spent nearly a year floundering and fumbling to navigate a nuanced world of words, pronunciation, grammar, and syntax.

As an educator, I now watch students facing a similar challenge as they move from subject to subject. Whether it’s science, math, language arts or any other subject area, each classroom has its own “language,” or crucial terms and vocabulary that students must master in order to be successful.

Supporting learners through effective vocabulary instruction is critical to their success. With this goal in mind, here are some key principles, strategies, and research-backed methods for helping students build key vocabulary skills.

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Which Words Matter Most?

One of the jobs we have as educators is to identify what are the most crucial terms and then support students in their efforts to maximize student learning, build language skills, and help students engage with the material on a deeper level. Consider the following when identifying key vocabulary:

►Identify Tier 2 Words: Tier 2 words are frequently used academic words found across different subjects (i.e…compare, contrast, analyze, summarize, synthesize) and are essential for understanding and expression in academic contexts. Tier 2 terms are words that help students to understand questions, directions, and participate in discussions that apply across various subject areas.

►Identify Tier 3 Words: These are words that are content-specific, or crucial to understanding subject matter (e.g., “factor” in math, “photosynthesis” in biology, “acceleration” in physics, “thesis” in language arts). Tier 3 words should be prioritized if they occur frequently in the curriculum and/or they’re foundational to the unit you’re teaching.

►Focus on Vocabulary Essential to Understanding Key Concepts: Look at the central ideas, themes, or processes students will need to understand in your classroom. For example, in a Social Studies unit on the Constitution, terms like “separation of powers,” “amendment,” “Bill of Rights,” “civil liberties,” and “popular sovereignty,” are critical because they represent the core concepts of the topic. In other words, ask yourself, “Without this word, would my students struggle to understand the central ideas of this lesson/unit?” If the answer is yes, then it’s likely a key concept.

Working with Colleagues

It is imperative, especially for novice educators, to work with other teachers in your content area or grade level to identify challenging, but crucial, words or phrases that students will encounter repeatedly in your subject. As you collaborate, be sure to….

►Examine content standards and curriculum resources to decide which terms are essential. Be sure to include vocabulary that has proven difficult for students in the past. Together, teachers can analyze specific texts, materials, and even assignment directions to identify crucial words and phrases.

►Hone in on foundational vocabulary that builds background knowledge for future terms and concepts (e.g., in social studies the word “civilization” lays the groundwork for studying history and cultural development).

►Identify terms with multiple meanings and connotations. Many terms have meanings and applications across various subjects. For instance, consider the word “root.” In math, “root” means a number that, when multiplied by itself, gives a specific value (e.g., the square root of 9 is 3). In science, “root” refers to the part of a plant that absorbs nutrients and anchors it to the soil. In English Language Arts, “root” is the basic part of a word that provides its core meaning (e.g., the root of “aquarium” is “aqua”).

►Consider students’ background knowledge, current vocabulary, and needs. Some learners simply do not possess the background knowledge required to engage with the content of our lessons. In addition, some Multilingual learners (MLs) may need support with specific Tier 2 academic words and Tier 3 content words that don’t have a direct translation. In both cases, teachers can carefully select and pre-teach key words and phrases to help students find success.

A deliberate focus on key vocabulary pays off in many ways. It helps maximize learning, build students’ language skills, and empower learners to engage with the curriculum on a deeper level. In essence, vocabulary creates a path for our students to understand and employ complex concepts/skills within and across all subject areas.

Tried and True Strategies

As we intentionally select and teach foundational terms and concepts, we make challenging material more accessible and meaningful. In essence, we give students the keys that unlock a world of knowledge, expression, and academic success.

But what, exactly, should vocabulary instruction look like? Consider the following research-driven approaches:

►Explicit vocabulary instruction includes a clear, student-friendly definition presented directly to students along with examples and non-examples of words. This ensures that students understand both the meaning and use of the word, addressing any gaps in vocabulary knowledge. To see a short walk through of explicit instruction of vocabulary, click here.

►Model and teach word learning strategies. This could include working with students to identify and use context clues (e.g…synonyms, antonyms, examples, definitions) and/or word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots, and base words) to decode unfamiliar terms. This site from Membeam, for example, provides a comprehensive list of word parts, their definitions, and sample words.

►Utilize Marzano’s vocabulary instruction process. This six-step method for teaching academic vocabulary includes…

1. Providing an example: Give a description, explanation, or example of the new term.
2. Restating the meaning: Ask students to explain the term in their own words.
3. Creating a visual representation: Have students draw, create a symbol, or make a graphic to represent the word.
4. Adding to knowledge: Have students add to their vocabulary notebooks with activities that help them learn more about the term.
5. Discussing the term: Have students discuss the term with a partner or in a small group.
6. Playing games: Have students engage in playful activities that involve the term such as Pictionary, Charades, Fly Swatter, Bingo, and other fun games.

►Provide repeated exposure in various contexts. To help students build neural connections and make it easier for them to remember and apply vocabulary, engage learners in a variety of daily writing assignments, reading passages, review games, classroom discussions, warm-ups, and exit tickets.

►Help students utilize graphic organizers. Graphic organizers help students visualize relationships between words, deepen understanding, and improve retention. Some examples include using a…

• Frayer Model: This type of graphic organizer is designed to help students analyze and understand the meaning of words.
• Semantic Map: For learning new words, consider helping students create semantic maps that visually represent the relationships between them.
• Word Map: Have students create word maps to explore definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.

►Encourage spaced repetition/practice. This approach involves reviewing vocabulary at increasing intervals over time. The goal is to improve long-term memory and proper use of key terms. For example, using low-stakes quizzes to help students retrieve and reinforce vocabulary. Click here for a video explanation. 

►Retrieval Practice. This is a powerful learning strategy proven to improve long-term retention. It involves actively recalling information from memory. For a video walk through, click here. 

►Include peer interaction and collaborative learning. For example….

• Vocabulary Journals for students to log new words, definitions, and their own sentences. Once they have done so, they are encouraged to share and refine their entries with peers.
• Peer discussions that encourage students to discuss words and their meanings in small groups.
• Think-Pair-Share activities for students to think about the meaning of a word, pair up to discuss, and share insights in a larger group or the entire class.

►Incorporate movement. Work as a class to develop actions or movements that will help students remember the meaning of words. See this example from a 6th grade class.

►Sticky first encounters. Make students’ first exposure to words dynamic. For example, use the word in a funny or personal story.

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Tap into Technology and Multimedia

When it comes to vocabulary instruction and review, technology and multimedia can help engage multiple learning modalities, enhancing retention. When presenting new vocabulary, pair words with images, videos or animations to make abstract words more concrete.

Consider interactive apps like….

►Brainscape: This site is a powerful flashcard creator that applies the principle of spaced repetition to regulate vocabulary review study, giving repeated exposure to the concepts students feel less sure about, and less to the ones they know more confidently. The free plan allows individuals to create and share cards and gives you access to some pre-made decks. Paid plans have more features and access to premium decks, which have been professionally certified.

►Quizlet: This site makes it easy for students to engage in interactive practice with key vocabulary. Teachers/students can create digital flashcards with words and their definitions and then study through various methods such as flipping through cards, playing games, taking practice tests, and listening to pronunciations.

►Bitsboard: Bitsboard is a slick, user-friendly tool that allows educators to create a variety of activities including flashcards for student use. 

►Flippity: This tool turns a Google Sheet into a set of online flashcards. Other options for word review include word searches, crossword puzzles, bingo cards, and Jeopardy!-style quiz games.

►GoConqr: GoConqr is a platform where users can create and share flashcards, mind maps, quizzes, and other materials for free.

►WordWall: This website allows teachers and students to create vocabulary activities like matching, cloze exercises, and Jeopardy!-style games. Teachers can create up to three activities for free.

►Google Slides: This tool can be used to create individual and collaborative digital flashcards. The cards can also be used to create a Frayer model.

►Blooket: Teachers can use Blooket to create a “question set” featuring vocabulary words and corresponding multiple-choice or short-answer questions. Questions can ask for definitions, synonyms, antonyms, example sentences or applications of the words in context. Blooket offers a variety of game modes (e.g…Tower Defense, Gold Quest, Battle Royal) that make vocabulary practice fun and engaging. 

Putting It All Together

In conclusion, effective vocabulary instruction is not just an added layer of support for learners – it is foundational to their success across all subject areas.

By identifying essential Tier 2 and Tier 3 words, collaborating with colleagues to refine focus areas, and employing a mix of research-based strategies, teachers can bridge the gap between students and the complex language of the classroom.

Whether through explicit teaching, graphic organizers, or technology-enhanced practice, these approaches empower learners to engage deeply with curriculum content and build lasting language skills.

Ultimately, vocabulary instruction is about opening doors for our students. It equips them with the tools to decipher complex texts, articulate their thoughts with precision, and connect ideas across diverse subjects. As teachers, we hold the key to helping students navigate and master their “world of words.” By fostering a classroom environment rich in language and context, we not only enhance academic performance but also instill confidence and curiosity that will serve students far beyond the classroom.