Strategy 4: Vocabulary
Student VOC Strategy Level of Expertise: 4
What is the instructional strategy?
The instructional strategy being used to assist student understanding of a set of related content concepts (i.e.: neutrality, propaganda, militarism). This strategy will be employed both during and after students read pp. 671-676 in the American Journey textbook (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998; Doty, Cameron, & Barton, 2003).
Why does the strategy work?
This strategy helps students learn and analyze new content concepts by encouraging them to use a variety of learning techniques, such as, utilizing context clues, writing the word in a sentence, and designing a meaningful way to remember the word. It is designed to aid student comprehension and retention. This strategy also encourages students to find and utilize various sources and materials to help them develop this understanding.
How does it work?
1) First, I select the passage to assign to students and determine the key vocabulary words and concepts students need to know and understand (i.e.: neutrality, propaganda, militarism).
2) Next, I introduce the selected vocabulary to the students before they read the assigned passage.
3) Then, I instruct students to record the unfamiliar terms from the list of selected vocabulary and to use the Student VOC strategy during and after reading the passage.
4) Finally, students will be encouraged to use and share resources and methods with each other to help cultivate deeper understandings of the words.
Sources Referenced: Billmeyer & Barton, 1998; Doty, Cameron, & Barton, 2003.
What does it look like?
Name: _______________________________
Directions: Complete the Student VOC vocabulary guide while reading pp. 671-676 in the American Journey textbook.
Vocabulary word: _____Neutrality______
1) Write the sentence in which you found the text:
“Other influential political leaders also argued strongly in favor of neutrality” (p. 671).
2) Based on this text, make a prediction of what this word means?
Stay in the middle
3) Ask an “expert” for a definition of the word. This expert can be a peer, teacher, or another credible source:
Expert: ___Teacher___
Definition: __not take sides, remain impartial___
4) Show your understanding by using the word in a sentence:
The U.S.
5) Come up with a way to help you remember what the word means. You can draw, act out, connect, write a news article or report, write a song, or a narrative.
6) Explain why you chose what you did to demonstrate this meaning.
Vocabulary word: _____Propaganda______
1) Write the sentence in which you found the text:
2) Based on this text, make a prediction of what this word means?
3) Ask an “expert” for a definition of the word. This expert can be a peer, teacher, or another credible source:
Expert: _____________
Definition: _____________________________________________________________ ___
4) Show your understanding by using the word in a sentence:
5) Come up with a way to help you remember what the word means. You can draw, act out, connect, write a news article or report, write a song, or a narrative.
6) Explain why you chose what you did to demonstrate this meaning.
Vocabulary word: _____Militarism______
1) Write the sentence in which you found the text:
2) Based on this text, make a prediction of what this word means?
3) Ask an “expert” for a definition of the word. This expert can be a peer, teacher, or another credible source:
Expert: _____________
Definition: _____________________________________________________________ ___
4) Show your understanding by using the word in a sentence:
5) Come up with a way to help you remember what the word means. You can draw, act out, connect, write a news article or report, write a song, or a narrative.
6) Explain why you chose what you did to demonstrate this meaning.
