Vocabulary

While the students have the day off, the staff is working on a district-wide vocabulary project. Research confirms that one of the best ways to increase achievement is through building vocabulary in the content areas. When children master key vocabulary of the big ideas of the grade level curriculum, connections increase in their brains. The more connections, the more students remember and the more learning takes place.

Last November during Institute Day, teachers at each grade level and in each content area identified mastery level vocabulary lists. This Institute Day, teachers are identifying the words to be taught fourth quarter and first quarter of next year. Through the use of a template on the district's intranet, they are developing what students will do to learn the vocabulary and identifying resources that will be used to teach the vocabulary.