Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Vocabulary knowledge plays a huge role in the academic success of middle school students. But which words do students need to know to master the content in their textbooks, and how can they be learned? This book has the practical answers educators need.

Middle school teachers will get five extensive, research-based lists of academic vocabulary words most frequently used in student textbooks--the words kids need to know to increase their comprehension and succeed in school. They'll discover how to help their students: - strengthen academic vocabulary knowledge in five key school subject;
- master the content they need to know under the Common Core State Standards;
- understand why the words they encounter in textbooks are important;
- improve comprehension and eliminate roadblocks to understanding what they read.

Teachers will also get critical background information on the importance of academic vocabulary, proven teaching strategies for vocabulary instruction, and detailed vocabulary instruction activities, including "fix-ups" for struggling readers and English language learners and extensions that build on the activities. Accessible and practical, this book is an ideal resource for in-service professional development and preservice teacher preparation courses!" (Book Cover)

CONTENTS:

About the Reproducible Materials

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How Many Words Does a Middle School Student Need to Know?

What Do the Common Core State Standards Say

About Academic Language for Middle School Students?

Who Is the Audience for This Book?

Summary

1. Key Concepts and Ideas about Vocabulary

Anticipation Activity

How Can We Categorize Words In Texts?

What Is Academic Vocabulary?

What Is Technical Vocabulary?

What Is High-Frequency Vocabulary?

What is Mid-Frequency Vocabulary?

What Is Low-Frequency Vocabulary?

How Can Proper Nouns Be Categorized?

Research on Word Lists

Identifying Academic Vocabulary in Middle School Texts

Summary

Discussion Questions

2. The Middle School Vocabulary Lists in Context

Anticipation Activity

How Were the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Created?

What Kinds of Words Are Included in the Middle School Vocabulary Lists?

How Are Middle School Vocabulary List Words Integrated in Content-Area Textbooks?

Why Are the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Important for Middle School Teachers and Students?

Summary

Discussion Questions

3. Planning for Integrating the Middle School Vocabulary Lists into Classroom Instruction

Anticipation Activity

What Is Meant by “Word Consciousness”?

How Can Teachers Set Priorities for Focusing on Specific Words?

What are Nation’s Four Strands for Vocabulary Instruction?

Summary

Discussion Questions

4. Activities that Focus on Middle School Vocabulary List Words

Activities for Providing Meaning-Focused Input and Meaning-Focused Output

Jigsaw Reading

Narrow Reading

Close Reading

Concept Map

Language-Focused Learning Activities

The Frayer Model

Word Sorts

Triple-Entry Vocabulary Journal

Vocabulary Cards

Semantic Feature Analysis

Identifying and Using Cognates

Word Builder

Word Chains for Form, Meaning, and Use

Activities for Developing Fluency

4-3-2 for Fluency

Quick Writing

Summary

Discussion Questions

5. Knowing a Word and Testing Word Knowledge

What Does It Mean to Know a Word?

What Makes Word-Learning Easy and What Makes It Difficult?

Determining How Many Words from the Middle School Vocabulary Lists Students Already Know

Testing Students’ Learning of Middle School Vocabulary List Words

Determining How Many Words Students Know?

Why Is this Information about Vocabulary Knowledge and Testing Important for Middle School Teachers and Learners?

Future Research and Considerations

Summary

Conclusion

Discussion Questions

References

Appendix A: The Middle School Vocabulary Lists

The Middle School English Grammar and Writing Vocabulary List
The Middle School Health Vocabulary List
The Middle School Mathematics Vocabulary List
The Middle School Science Vocabulary List
The Middle School Social Studies and History Vocabulary List
References

Appendix B: Methodology for the Compilation of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists
Principles and Considerations for Corpus Development
The Middle School Content-Area Textbook Corpus
Development of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists
Results
Validation of the Middle School Content-Area Vocabulary Lists
Limitations and Potential Criticisms of the Middle School Vocabulary Lists
Summary

Appendix C: Vocabulary Size Test Version A Vocabulary Size Test Answers
Index