Vocabulary
The regular vocabulary group is differentiated by grade level with increasing expectations for each successive grade. We work on vocabulary twice a week. We take two weeks to work on each vocabulary list. There are currently two main vocabulary groups in core: a Binder (or regular) vocabulary group, and a word within the word (W3) vocabulary group. The W3 group is further divided into a first year W3 group and several second year W3 vocabulary groups. Additionally, the regular vocabulary group is differentiated by grade level with increasing expectations for each successive grade.
During the first week of a vocabulary list, I work with the regular vocabulary group to review ten words from the current list on each workday. We try to complete each 30-45 minute workday during the beginning of week (Monday and Tuesday if possible). We work on parts of speech, stems (suffixes, prefixes, and root words), context, usage, antonyms, and synonyms. I do not "post" the vocabulary list to the website until after all words have been presented. I learned a long time ago that students will simply print and then not pay attention in class. Understanding and scores plummeted. Dogs and cat were living together. It was mass hysteria. W3 students work independently on their assignments while I direct the regular vocabulary students.
During the second week of a vocabulary list the students get their assignments back. We review mistaken understandings and I provide more hints. We also prepare for the quiz, which pretty much always occurs on Thursday.
Regular vocabulary students will have a quiz with twenty sentence groups. Each numbered sentence group will have a blank in it—a blank in which only one of the vocabulary words fits. Their job is to figure out which word belongs in the blank. 6th graders need to complete any 12 of the 20 blanks, 7th any 14, and 8th any 16.
We will complete fifteen vocabulary lists each academic year. There is a "slightly larger" quiz at then end of each quarter to review the cumulative lists, and the final of each semester is cumulative and more comprehensive.
During the first week of a vocabulary list, I work with the regular vocabulary group to review ten words from the current list on each workday. We try to complete each 30-45 minute workday during the beginning of week (Monday and Tuesday if possible). We work on parts of speech, stems (suffixes, prefixes, and root words), context, usage, antonyms, and synonyms. I do not "post" the vocabulary list to the website until after all words have been presented. I learned a long time ago that students will simply print and then not pay attention in class. Understanding and scores plummeted. Dogs and cat were living together. It was mass hysteria. W3 students work independently on their assignments while I direct the regular vocabulary students.
During the second week of a vocabulary list the students get their assignments back. We review mistaken understandings and I provide more hints. We also prepare for the quiz, which pretty much always occurs on Thursday.
Regular vocabulary students will have a quiz with twenty sentence groups. Each numbered sentence group will have a blank in it—a blank in which only one of the vocabulary words fits. Their job is to figure out which word belongs in the blank. 6th graders need to complete any 12 of the 20 blanks, 7th any 14, and 8th any 16.
We will complete fifteen vocabulary lists each academic year. There is a "slightly larger" quiz at then end of each quarter to review the cumulative lists, and the final of each semester is cumulative and more comprehensive.
Quiz Schedule
1st Quarter• vocabulary #1 (9/19)
• vocabulary #2 (10/3) • vocabulary #3 (10/10) • vocabulary #4 (10/31)* 2nd Quarter • vocabulary #5 (11/7) • vocabulary #6 (12/5) • vocabulary #7 (12/19) • vocabulary #8 [only an assignment, the quiz portion will be integrated into the semester final] • vocabulary #1-8 semester 1 final (1/15-16)# 3rd Quarter • vocabulary #9 (2/6) • vocabulary #10 (2/20) • vocabulary #11 (3/6) • vocabulary #12 (3/20)** 4th Quarter • vocabulary #13 (4/17) • vocabulary #14 (5/1) • vocabulary #15 (5/15) • vocabulary #1-15 semester 2 final (5/29-30)## |
*The 1st quarter test is an expanded vocabulary quiz. It will focus on vocabulary #4, but will include elements from the first three lists. It is on Thursday, October 31. #The first semester vocabulary final stretches from Wednesday, January 15 through Thursday, January 16. It accounts for 10% of the writing grade and uses words from lists #1-8. There will not be a separate quiz for list #8. It will be integrated into the semester final. **The 3rd quarter test is an expanded vocabulary quiz. It will focus on vocabulary #12, but will include elements from the first seven lists. It is on Thursday, March 20. ##The second semester vocabulary final is from Thursday, May 29 through Friday, May 30. It uses words from lists #1-15. It is comprehensive and students should study for it in the weeks prior to the final...not cram the night before. |
Regular Vocabulary
Twelve words of the regular vocabulary list are alphabetical and are from a list of, “the most commonly used words to know.” The other eight words are from short stories, history text, or some other class reading. For the regular vocabulary group, the task of each assignment will vary—it may be writing sentences with context, a comic strip, or the adventures of Bob the Erudite Turtle in Lollipopland. The assignment is due at the beginning of the class at the end of the first week (usually Friday) or as noted in the planner.
The variety of modes and styles of writing is a two-for-one deal. I expand the breadth and depth of their exposure to different forms of writing while also satisfying the need to practice using the vocabulary words.
QUIZZES
The regular group's quiz can have two aspects. The first aspect focuses on the words in the current list. Students have to complete a certain number of fill-in-the-blank sentences (6th have to complete a minimum of 12, 7th must complete 14, and 8th have to do 16). There are 20 fill-in-the-blank sentences, one for each vocabulary word. Students use the context in the sentence to help determine which vocabulary word belongs in the blank. There is a word bank of the current vocabulary list’s words so students are expected to spell the words correctly. Each fill-in-the-blank is worth two points.
The other aspect of the regular quiz for depends on the semester and on the workload. During the first semester, words from previous lists may be included in the fill-in-the-blank sentences. The words from previous lists will be highlighted and after the sentence the word is listed with a long blank line next to the word. Students need to write a working definition of the word based on their memory and its usage in the sentence.
During the second semester, the other aspect of the quiz might be a review of grammar. Students will be completing a separate assignment for each vocabulary list (but included in the vocabulary list's score) focusing on grammar. The quiz will include example of the grammatical focus to correct. During the third quarter, we will focus on parts of speech and during the fourth quarter we will be diagramming sentneces.. On the quiz students will do the same thing for a few of the sentences.
LISTS, EXAMPLES, AND ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS:
Blank Vocabulary List for assignments
1st Semester:
Regular Vocabulary Lists #1-8 Explanation & Example Quiz
vocabulary #1 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1 [PDF]
vocabulary #1 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #1 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #2 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #2 [PDF]
vocabulary #2 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #2 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #3 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #3 [PDF]
vocabulary #1-3 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-3 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #4 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #4 [PDF]
vocabulary #5 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #5 [PDF]
vocabulary #5 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #5 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #6 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #6 [PDF]
vocabulary #6 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #6 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #7 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #7 [PDF]
vocabulary #7 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #7 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #8 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #8 [PDF]
vocabulary #8 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #8 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-8 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-8 review words [PDF]
2nd Semester:
vocabulary assignment guidelines for lists #9-15
vocabulary #9 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #9 [PDF]
vocabulary #9 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #9 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #10 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #10 [PDF]
vocabulary #10 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #10 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #11 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #11 [PDF]
vocabulary #11 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #11 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #12 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-12 review words [Microsoft Word]vocabulary #1-12 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #13 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #14 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #15 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 crossword puzzle words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 crossword puzzle words [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 fill-in-the-blank words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 fill-in-the-blank words [PDF]
The variety of modes and styles of writing is a two-for-one deal. I expand the breadth and depth of their exposure to different forms of writing while also satisfying the need to practice using the vocabulary words.
QUIZZES
The regular group's quiz can have two aspects. The first aspect focuses on the words in the current list. Students have to complete a certain number of fill-in-the-blank sentences (6th have to complete a minimum of 12, 7th must complete 14, and 8th have to do 16). There are 20 fill-in-the-blank sentences, one for each vocabulary word. Students use the context in the sentence to help determine which vocabulary word belongs in the blank. There is a word bank of the current vocabulary list’s words so students are expected to spell the words correctly. Each fill-in-the-blank is worth two points.
The other aspect of the regular quiz for depends on the semester and on the workload. During the first semester, words from previous lists may be included in the fill-in-the-blank sentences. The words from previous lists will be highlighted and after the sentence the word is listed with a long blank line next to the word. Students need to write a working definition of the word based on their memory and its usage in the sentence.
During the second semester, the other aspect of the quiz might be a review of grammar. Students will be completing a separate assignment for each vocabulary list (but included in the vocabulary list's score) focusing on grammar. The quiz will include example of the grammatical focus to correct. During the third quarter, we will focus on parts of speech and during the fourth quarter we will be diagramming sentneces.. On the quiz students will do the same thing for a few of the sentences.
LISTS, EXAMPLES, AND ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS:
Blank Vocabulary List for assignments
1st Semester:
Regular Vocabulary Lists #1-8 Explanation & Example Quiz
vocabulary #1 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1 [PDF]
vocabulary #1 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #1 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #2 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #2 [PDF]
vocabulary #2 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #2 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #3 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #3 [PDF]
vocabulary #1-3 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-3 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #4 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #4 [PDF]
vocabulary #5 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #5 [PDF]
vocabulary #5 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #5 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #6 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #6 [PDF]
vocabulary #6 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #6 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #7 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #7 [PDF]
vocabulary #7 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #7 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #8 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #8 [PDF]
vocabulary #8 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #8 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-8 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-8 review words [PDF]
2nd Semester:
vocabulary assignment guidelines for lists #9-15
vocabulary #9 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #9 [PDF]
vocabulary #9 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #9 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #10 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #10 [PDF]
vocabulary #10 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #10 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #11 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #11 [PDF]
vocabulary #11 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #11 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #12 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #12 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-12 review words [Microsoft Word]vocabulary #1-12 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #13 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #13 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #14 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #14 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #15 [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PowerPoint]
vocabulary #15 presentation [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 review words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 review words [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 crossword puzzle words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 crossword puzzle words [PDF]
vocabulary #1-15 fill-in-the-blank words [Microsoft Word]
vocabulary #1-15 fill-in-the-blank words [PDF]