Vocabulary: Word Study, Spelling, Meaning

Our goal is to provide students with authentic means to develop vocabulary through usage and application in all content areas.

Elementary

• The curriculum provides direct spelling instruction in the reading and writing blocks, as well as content-specific vocabulary study across content areas.
• The spelling stages are part of the each grade level’s Success Criteria listed in the Local Assessments document.
• Spelling is assessed in multiple ways in reading:
  • Students’ individual spelling stage is assessed quarterly
  • Weekly activities provide formative assessments (spell sorts, generalizing, categorizing, and sentence dictation)
  • Teacher selection of assessments on word patterns to determine student understanding of words within the same word family (differentiated)
  • PALS assessments in grades K-3
  • NNPS assessments and quarterly benchmarks
• Spelling is also instructed and assessed in writing:
  • Peer and teacher revision provides corrective opportunities
  • Writing conferences provide individualized instruction of spelling and word patterns
  • Assessment by NNPS rubric

Secondary

• The curriculum provides content-specific vocabulary study across content areas.
• English and SAT Prep courses emphasize root words, prefixes, and suffixes instruction.
• Vocabulary usage and spelling are also instructed and assessed in writing:
  • Peer and teacher revision provides corrective opportunities
  • Writing conferences provide individualized instruction of word choice, usage, and spelling
  • Vocabulary study is integrated with authentic reading and writing. Teachers cull vocabulary from the unit texts and pre-teach to assist students in maximizing reading comprehension.