Vocabulary: Classification. Explain to students that categorizing words can help them think about how words are related. Point out that categorizing is.

Vocabulary: ClassificationVocabulary: Classification

Explain to students that categorizing words can help them think about how words are related. Point out that categorizing is more helpful than trying to memorize a random list of words.

When students learn new words, have them look for similarities and place them into categories.

By placing words into categories you can better remember their meanings. Categorization is a strategy that can help you learn new words in any subject.

LA. A. 1.2.3LA. A. 1.2.3

The student uses simple strategies to determine meaning and increase vocabulary for reading, including the use of prefixes, suffixes, root words, multiple meanings, antonyms, synonyms, and word relationships.

ObjectiveObjective

Students classifying vocabulary words by relating them to other words with similar meanings or related groups.

TASTE COLORS CAREER WORDS

bitter indigo designer

sour crimson ambassador

delectable ivory employ

tangy teal geologist

violet professional

Teach Students the Meanings of Specific Words

300-400 new word meanings can be taught per year through direct instruction. This is a significant proportion of the words that students who are at risk will learn. (Stahl & Shiel, 1999)

Select words to teach that are important for understanding text.

Words that students will encounter often, functionally important words.

Use both context and definitions

Find a synonym or antonym

Classify the word with other words

Relate the definition to one's own experiences

Give multiple exposures

Key WordsKey Words

The word _______ probably means…

__________ is a kind of …__________ is a synonym for …__________ means the opposite of…

The Frayer ModelThe Frayer Model

Example:fieldprairiepasture

Nonexample: mountain ocean tundra

Definition:A grassy area often used for growing hay

Other connecting information: The meadow that

meadow

Semantic Feature AnalysisSemantic Feature Analysis

This strategy effectively teaches vocabulary by activating prior knowledge and classifying new words by their features. A matrix is created with vocabulary words that have similarities on the left-hand side, and features of those words at the top of the matrix.

Hierarchical ArraysHierarchical Arrays

Heirarchical Arrays help students understand how words are related to each other and show the relationships among word meanings. A sample

hierarchical array is shown below. 

ExampleExample

Item TypeItem Type

Multiple Choice Sample

Which words from the story have almost the same meaning?A. Complained, wonderedB. Passed, waitedC. Puffed, poppedD. Watched, looked

Word PartsWord Parts

affixes (prefixes and suffixes), base words, and word roots.

AffixesAffixes

word parts that are "fixed to" either

the beginnings of words (prefixes) or the ending of words (suffixes). The word disrespectful has two affixes, a prefix (dis-) and a suffix (-ful).

Base wordsBase words

words from which many other words are formed.

For example, many words can be formed from the base word migrate: migration, migrant, immigration, immigrant, migrating, migratory.

Word rootsWord roots

words from other languages that are the origin of many English words. About 60% of all English words have Latin or Greek origins.

Third Grade FCATThird Grade FCAT

Distractors may include, but not limited to the following:• Incorrect meanings of words or phrases• Correct meanings of words or phrases that do not fit the context• Words with construct similar to correct

response (e.g. same prefix)• Incorrect interpretations of contractions

Fourth GradeFourth Grade

Distractors may include, but not limited to the following:Incorrect meanings of words or phrasesCorrect meanings of words or phrases

that do not fit the contextWords with construct similar to correct

response

Fifth GradeFifth Grade

Distractors may include, but not limited to the following:Incorrect meanings of words or phrasesCorrect meanings of words or phrases

that do not fit the contextWords with construct similar to correct

responsePlausible but incorrect responses based

on the text

Response AttributesResponse Attributes

Items assessing antonyms should not include synonyms as distractors; similarly, items assessing synonyms should not include antonyms as distractors.