Skills - Vocabulary

Vocabulary

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Vocabulary involves intentionally choosing specific words to deliver a message in the most effective manner and to express ideas to an intended audience.
Vocabulary specific to a discipline or content area should be explicitly taught and used in context so it is naturally used when writing

Use your programs of study for curriculum outcomes related to vocabulary.

Please refer to CESD’s Essential Outcomes work if you are using the previous Alberta Curriculum (Grade 7+).

Here is the New Alberta ELAL Curriculum, from the New Learn Alberta website, laid out like a scope and sequence.

Exposure to rich language, poetry, subject/content-specific vocabulary
Explicitly teaching and frequently reviewing new vocabulary
Participate in vocabulary-building activities such as vocabulary ladders.
Explicitly teaching how to use root words, prefixes and suffixes to determine meaning
Use of mentor texts
Use venn diagrams to compare similarities and differences between words
Brainstorming words
Universal use of word walls, personal and online dictionaries, thesaurus, etc.
Teach students to gather words from texts they are reading to be used in their future writing
Use graphic organizers to build vocabulary: Frayer model or concept maps, etc.
Teach students to use vocabulary that represents and matches the characters’ voices in writing dialogue or thoughts.
Vocabulary should not be taught in isolation. It should be taught as part of the reading/writing process (ie. juicy words vs. tired words etc.)