Vocabulary Strategies

It is vital that teachers give students the tools for acquiring their own rich vocabulary. Students will learn many words when they encounter them in meaningful contexts, but other words must be directly taught . Repeated meaningful encounters with words in read-alouds, in conversation, in personal reading, in discussion, or in media viewing can lead students to build vocabulary over time. Teachers should model effective word learning strategies for students. To figure out meaning of unknow words we need to know about:

A. Direction Words in Essay Tests Essay tests, unlike most tests you are probably accustomed to, do not employ a straightforward question and answer format. Essays test usually provide you with a paragraph that includes a direction word or statement. The direction word indicates what you should write about in your essay answer. Remember, when taking an essay test make sure to identify the direction word and that you understand what it is telling you before you start writing your essay response. The following is a list of the most common direction words used by teachers when writing essay tests. Weve provided the meaning of each word as well as an example of how the word is used so that when you see it again youll understand what it means and how to use it. Analyze This action word asks you to break something down into its component parts and then shows how each part relates to each other to make the whole. Example: Analyze how the human body works.

B. Context clues C. Context clues are hints that an author gives to help define a difficult or unusual word. The clue may appear within the same sentence as the word to which it refers, or it may follow in a preceding sentence. Because most of one's vocabulary is gained through reading, it is important that you be able to recognize and take advantage of context clues. There are at least four kinds of context clues that are quite common: 1) a synonym (or repeat context clue) which appears in that sentence; 2) an antonym (or contrast context clue) that has the opposite meaning, which can reveal the meaning of an unknown term; 3) an explanation for an unknown word is given (a definition context clue) within the sentence or in the sentence immediately preceding; and 4) specific examples (an example context clue) used to define the term. There may also be wordpart context clues in which a common prefix, suffix, or root will suggest at least part of the meaning of a word. A general sense context clue lets the reader puzzle out a word meaning from whatever information is available - and this is the most common kind of context clue. Others describe context clues in three ways: 1) semantic or meaning clues, e.g., When reading a story about cats, good readers develop the expectation that it will contain words associated with cats, such as "tail," "purr," "scratch," and "whiskers"; 2) syntactic or word order clues where the order of the words in a sentence can indicate

that a missing word must be (for example, a verb); and 3) picture clues where illustrations help with the identification of a word

D. Using related word to find meaning How to Use Context Clues to Find the Meaning of a Word When you come to a new word when you are reading you can sometimes figure out what the word means by thinking about the words around it. Words that give you clues about what the new word means are called "context clues" because they give you clues about meanings of new words. Sometimes the context clues come before the new word and sometimes they come after it. You may find a definition of the new word in the sentence or paragraph. A sentence might have a word that means the opposite of the new word (antonym), and sometimes a synonym, or word that means the same thing as the new word, will give you a clue. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Instructions 1. Read the whole sentence. If you don't know the meaning of "amenities," skip over it and read the rest of the sentence. Then look at the words around the new one and try to make a connection. Here is an example:George cared little for social amenities, and sometimes his unpleasant words and actions made people feel uncomfortable. The words that come after the word "amenities" explain that the word means unpleasant words and actions. Now read the whole sentence including the new word.

2. Read this sentence:They drove their bright new red vehicle to the park.You might not know the word "vehicle," but the word "drove" is a clue that vehicle could mean a car.In this sentence the context clue comes before the new word.Read the sentence again using the word "car" instead of "vehicle" to see if the word makes sense.

3. Read this sentence:He was always late; he just couldn't ever be punctual.The word "late" is the opposite of the word "punctual."In this sentence the clue to the meaning of "punctual" is its opposite: "late."

4. Read this sentence:The family needed to economize, but try as they would they just couldn't save money.The word "save" in this sentence means the same thing as "economize." Save is a synonym for economize.Sometimes a synonym, or word that means the same as the new word is a context clue that can help you figure out the meaning of a new word.

E. Signal Words

In order to be able to lead your reader in the direction you want to go, you will have to use strong transitions in your writing. You can do that in several ways: by using entire sentences to connect one thought to another, entire paragraphs to give more background information, or simply a word or two to indicate your intentions. This list of signals is from The New Reading Teacher's Book of Lists, 1985 Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. By E. Fry, D. Fountoukidis, and J. Polk. 1. Continuation Signals (Warningthere are more ideas to come): and first of all moreover one reason with 2. Change-of-direction signals (Watch outwere doubling back): although even though nevertheless rather but however otherwise still conversely in contrast the opposite yet despite instead of on the contrary while different from in spite of on the other hand though also A final reason likewise other another furthermore more secondly again in addition moreover similarly and finally last of all next too

3. Sequence signals (There is an order to these ideas): first, second, third A, B, C in the first place for one thing then

next into (far into the night) always

before until Oclock

now last on time

after during later

while since earlier

4. Illustration signals (Heres what that principle means in reality): for example much like specifically for instance to illustrate such as

in the same way as similar to

5. Emphasis signals (This is important): a major development most noteworthy a vital force the most substantial issue especially relevant the principal item 6. Cause, condition, or result signals (Condition or modification coming up): because so until so that due to if while since therefore resulting from of then as unless consequently for but whether yet from that in order that thus it all boils down to a significant factor most of all key feature remember that above all the crux of the matter more than anything else a central issue the main value a major event should be noted especially important a primary concern pay particular attention to a distinctive quality the basic concept

especially valuable the chief outcome important to note

7. Spatial signals (Answers the where question): between left on right by these here close to there near

this east over into below outside far

side about under behind opposite inside in

middle north away toward upon alongside adjacent

west south in front of beyond outside over near

beside around across above upon out next to

8. Comparison-contrast signals (We will now compare idea A with idea B): and most same much as still rather or either better like yet while also less even analogous to however though too less than then but although best more than half different from opposite

9. Conclusion signals (This ends the discussion and may have special importance): as a result in summary consequently hence finally last of all from this we see therefore in conclusion

10. Fuzz signals (Idea not exact, or author to positive and wishes to qualify a statement): almost some might sort of 11. if except reputed probably Non-word emphasis signals italics numbered points (1,2,3) bold type very short sentence: Stop War. subheads, like The Conclusion quotation marks looks like should seems like maybe alleged was reported could nearly purported

exclamation point underline (!) indention of paragraph graphic illustrations

Prefixes and suffixes..

F. Prefixes and Suffixes A prefix is a group of letters added before a word or base to alter its meaning and form a new word. In contrast, a suffix is a group of letters added after a word or base. This page contains free worksheets, online activities and other educational resources to help with prefixes and suffixes.