Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students : Research-Based Lists and Strategies for Key Content Areas /
Jennifer Wells Greene and Averil Coxhead.
- 1st ed.
- Baltimore, MD : Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2015.
- xiii, 170 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
- Reading and Literacy .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Vocabulary knowledge plays a huge role in the academic success of middle school students. But which words do students need to know to master the content in their textbooks, and how can they be learned? This book has the practical answers educators need. Middle school teachers will get five extensive, research-based lists of academic vocabulary words most frequently used in student textbooks--the words kids need to know to increase their comprehension and succeed in school. They'll discover how to help their students: - strengthen academic vocabulary knowledge in five key school subject; - master the content they need to know under the Common Core State Standards; - understand why the words they encounter in textbooks are important; - improve comprehension and eliminate roadblocks to understanding what they read. Teachers will also get critical background information on the importance of academic vocabulary, proven teaching strategies for vocabulary instruction, and detailed vocabulary instruction activities, including "fix-ups" for struggling readers and English language learners and extensions that build on the activities. Accessible and practical, this book is an ideal resource for in-service professional development and preservice teacher preparation courses!" (Book Cover) CONTENTS: About the Reproducible Materials About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction How Many Words Does a Middle School Student Need to Know? What Do the Common Core State Standards Say About Academic Language for Middle School Students? Who Is the Audience for This Book? Summary 1. Key Concepts and Ideas about Vocabulary Anticipation Activity How Can We Categorize Words In Texts? What Is Academic Vocabulary? What Is Technical Vocabulary? What Is High-Frequency Vocabulary? What is Mid-Frequency Vocabulary? What Is Low-Frequency Vocabulary? How Can Proper Nouns Be Categorized? Research on Word Lists Identifying Academic Vocabulary in Middle School Texts Summary Discussion Questions 2. The Middle School Vocabulary Lists in Context Anticipation Activity How Were the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Created? What Kinds of Words Are Included in the Middle School Vocabulary Lists? How Are Middle School Vocabulary List Words Integrated in Content-Area Textbooks? Why Are the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Important for Middle School Teachers and Students? Summary Discussion Questions 3. Planning for Integrating the Middle School Vocabulary Lists into Classroom Instruction Anticipation Activity What Is Meant by “Word Consciousness”? How Can Teachers Set Priorities for Focusing on Specific Words? What are Nation’s Four Strands for Vocabulary Instruction? Summary Discussion Questions 4. Activities that Focus on Middle School Vocabulary List Words Activities for Providing Meaning-Focused Input and Meaning-Focused Output Jigsaw Reading Narrow Reading Close Reading Concept Map Language-Focused Learning Activities The Frayer Model Word Sorts Triple-Entry Vocabulary Journal Vocabulary Cards Semantic Feature Analysis Identifying and Using Cognates Word Builder Word Chains for Form, Meaning, and Use Activities for Developing Fluency 4-3-2 for Fluency Quick Writing Summary Discussion Questions
5. Knowing a Word and Testing Word Knowledge What Does It Mean to Know a Word? What Makes Word-Learning Easy and What Makes It Difficult? Determining How Many Words from the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Students Already Know Testing Students’ Learning of Middle School Vocabulary List Words Determining How Many Words Students Know? Why Is this Information about Vocabulary Knowledge and Testing Important for Middle School Teachers and Learners? Future Research and Considerations Summary Conclusion Discussion Questions References Appendix A: The Middle School Vocabulary Lists The Middle School English Grammar and Writing Vocabulary List The Middle School Health Vocabulary List The Middle School Mathematics Vocabulary List The Middle School Science Vocabulary List The Middle School Social Studies and History Vocabulary List References Appendix B: Methodology for the Compilation of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Principles and Considerations for Corpus Development The Middle School Content-Area Textbook Corpus Development of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Results Validation of the Middle School Content-Area Vocabulary Lists Limitations and Potential Criticisms of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Summary Appendix C: Vocabulary Size Test Version A Vocabulary Size Test Answers Index