These are academic words that are not usually defined in a text or glossary. When we choose words that are worthy of our limited time, we find that they are almost exclusively Tier 2 words. Add another 300 words that the experts tell us we should explicitly teach in class in a year’s time, and you give your students an impressive vocabulary gain. The average student learns about 3000 words each year on their own. This is the language of academia, and yet, it is also the language of living. We teach these words to ensure strong memory and connections that last beyond middle school, beyond high school, and into life itself. ► Finally, the words in list 3, the Ultimate 5, are analyze, cite, evaluate, persuade, and relevant. ► The words in list two, the Necessary 9, are develop, evidence, infer, interpret, main idea, structure, summarize, paraphrase, and theme. The words are found literally everywhere, and we assume that our students know them (yes, they recognize them) and know what to do with them (unfortunately that is not always the case). This first list includes compare, contrast, demonstrate, describe, details, determine, distinguish, explain, point of view, support, and trace. ► The Foundational 11 are just that – a foundation for understanding and thriving in the world of words. These words provide the avenue to these higher level thinking processes. Having the ability to see various points of view, analyze a text, support work with evidence, and evaluate one’s own work and the work of others are just a few examples of what our students must be able to do. They enhance the ability to read between the lines and move the lines when necessary for clearer understanding and mastery. They are simply the foundational, necessary, and indeed, ultimate vocabulary required to help students not sound smarter, but make smarter deductions by focusing on what a text is and isn’t saying. What does it take to know these words? Knowing means storing them in long-term memory, having the ability to access them instantly and act upon them, and allowing available space in our working memory to apply the word while holding onto prior knowledge and new information that are provided in a text or on an assessment. These are the words – the processes – that change thinking, challenge our beliefs, and enhance writing and dialog. I divide the Essential 25 into three lists of words that I call: Tackling the academic vocabulary of state standards and assessments may seem daunting, but once students get the information into their long-term memory and are able to retrieve it, they are on their way to achieving a deeper understanding of text, improving their writing skills, and using more sophisticated speech.
I call these words “essential” because knowing and using them can boost academic success and lifelong learning. They are found most often on standardized assessments, in state standards, and in college and career settings. I have chosen the 25 most high-frequency words for learners in the English language to focus upon.
#The ultimate vocabulary plus
They are the tools to understand the language of others, express ourselves, and unlock the mysteries of text and dialogue, plus they literally change the brain!
They are the words that higher cognitive function relies on and which encourage creativity. They are not descriptive, alluring adjectives or adverbs that spice up our writing or storytelling. They’re not exciting or glamorous, yet 25 powerful vocabulary words can make or break higher level learning.
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