Teaching Tipster: Clarifying Unknown Words

When I use this Predicting, Clarifying, Questioning, and Summarizing form with my students, for each book we read in small group. First, they choose the vocabulary words that are challenging for them. After they choose the words that "are tricky for them," I work with them to clarify the words.

Here's what we do:

1. We write down the words on chart paper. I check the words that are repeats. This helps me to see the words that are tricky for all of the students.
2. Then I choose words that are essential to the comprehension of the text or words that are Tier 2 words that they will encounter often. See this article from Colorin Colorado for more help on choosing vocabulary for ELLs. We talk about 5-10 of the words.
3. Next, the students read the word in context and make inferences about the meaning.
4. I draw a picture of the word, and we discuss the word togther- giving examples and non-examples.
 

I took some quick pictures of the work we did with clarifying  this week:

On the bottom are Tier 2 words (clogged, harder), up top are Tier 3 words (geysers, craters, cinder cones, shield volcanoes).

This process could always be improved on. But, I think it's esecially essential to discuss the tricky words with my students, and giving them an illustration is especially important- it helps to anchor the word for them.

How do you teach vocabulary to the kids you teach?

Teaching Tipster: Free Printable Book Review Forms

I created these nifty worksheet at the beginning of the year as a way for my students (4th and 5th graders) to respond to their independent reading in writing. I use these for a Read 180 class I teach. I hope they'll be useful to you. Let me know if you want a word document (to make edits). I can email it to you if you message me.

Do you like this resource? Leave a comment below so I know what kind of stuff you want more of.

Click here for FICTION BOOK REVIEW free printable

Click here for NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW free printable

Teaching Tipster with Free Printable: Open-Ended Worksheet for Reading Comprehension (Fiction Texts)

I posted a comprehension worksheet a couple weeks ago. I've been using this format for several of my reading intervention comprehension groups over the past couple of months, and it's really helping to build student comprehension (woot! woot!). I was only using nonfiction text, but today I adapted the same worksheet (based on the reciprocal teaching model) to use with fiction text.

On the backside of the worksheet there is space for students to pre-write/illustrate the beginning, middle, and end of the story. I also included a space for Somebody/Wanted/But/So and have a space for summary. With some groups I will use all three of these summary tools as a way to scaffold the comprehension process, but it will depend on the students and their needs.

On differentiation: Since I work with students in grades 1st-5th, this worksheet is open-ended can be used at several grade levels. Also, I find that it's helpful use the worksheets to guide learning each week- especially for my students' with learning disabilities.  I also have a lot of space for vocabulary/clarification because most of my students are ELL and need the extra support with vocabulary.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Follow Link to Download This Comprehension Worksheet

Follow Link to Download This Comprehension Worksheet