OVERVIEW:

This resource will assist teachers to help build on students language development and
understanding of content. As well as ensure students vocabulary is appropriate for the students age and
levels of development, while allowing students to contribute to correct use of academic vocabulary.

My Word Collector Collection

To effectively increase student understanding of content through student chosen vocabulary,
Objective:
to enhance students understanding of content vocabulary to deepen comprehension.
Domain 3: Instruction
Component 3a: Communicating with Students
Domain: Knowledge of:
Component: Standards-Based Learning Objectives
Element(s): Directions for Activities
Content Delivery and Clarity
Use of Oral and Written Language
Proficient for Component Distinguished for Component 3a:
3a:
Teacher clearly communicates Teacher clearly communicates standards-based learning
standards-based learning objective(s). Teacher guides students to articulate the relevance
objective(s) to students and of the objective(s) to learning. Teacher clearly explains
Levels of addresses their relevance to directions and procedures, and anticipate possible student
learning. Teacher clearly misunderstanding. Teachers explanation of content is
Performance communicates directions and thorough, accurate, and clear, enabling students to develop a
from the CPS procedures. Teachers explanation of conceptual understanding of content while making connections
Framework: content is clear and accurate, and to their interest, knowledge, and experience students
connects with students knowledge contribute to extending the content by explaining concepts to
and experience. Teachers spoken their classmates. Teachers spoken and written language is
and written language is clear and expressive, and builds on students language development and
correct. Vocabulary is appropriate understanding of content. Vocabulary is appropriate for the
for the students ages and levels of students ages and levels of development; students contribute
development. to the correct use of academic vocabulary.
Connections Component 1d: Designing Coherent Instruction
Across the Component 3c: Engaging Students in Learning
Framework:
Grade: K-8
Audience
Subject: All Subjects
Especially Grade: K-8
Helpful
For Subject: All Subjects
Learn It!
Try It!
Print It!

Purpose: To help students comprehension through
content vocabulary that students contribute by choosing
the academic vocabulary.

Connections to Framework: This student created

word collector builds on students current language
development and understanding of content. Students are
able to take accountability for their own vocabulary
development, which ensures that the student chosen
vocabulary is appropriate for their ages and levels of
development.

How to Use: Students can utilize their personal word

collector worksheet during large and small group time,
whenever they read or encounter a word they are
unfamiliar with, but feel they need to know it to fully
comprehend what they are reading or working on. (See
example) Students are also able to track the vocabulary
words they have learned and used throughout the year.
This can also be a useful tool to help with ELL students
using tier 1 and tier 2 vocabulary words.

Next Steps: Students can find the definitions of the

words they collect and use them as the teacher sees fit,
e.g., creating a vocabulary web (assuming the words are
related to the same topic), adding to a student created
class vocabulary picture wall, etc. (See example)


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Word Collector

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