Vocabulary Companion Volume 1, Unit 1: 10 Weeks of Tier 2 Words in Context, Grades 3-5

Description

Want vocabulary work that comes straight from your read alouds? This Science of Reading-aligned vocabulary companion for Volume 1, Unit 1 gives 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students 10 weeks of tier 2 words in context, with one set for each of the ten mentor texts in the unit. Unit 1 of Volume 1 fits best at the beginning of the school year, though you can start it any time.

Each book’s set is built around six tier 2 words from the book, along with some tier 3 words when a book uses them. Students meet every word in the book first, gather clues from the text, and work out what it means before they practice using it. There are no word lists to memorize and no copying definitions out of a dictionary.

The books are not included. I chose favorites that most school libraries already have.

How each book’s set works:

• Word cards for the week’s words
• What Do You Think? Students record each word’s part of speech and the clues the book gives, then write what they think it means in their own words.
• Practice pages that change with the book and its words. Depending on the book, students use context clues to finish sentences or a short story, sort multiple-meaning words, make word associations, work with synonyms and antonyms, break words into parts, complete analogies, or decide whether a word fits a situation and explain why.
• Show What You Know, a quick formative check on the week’s words

What’s included:

• A vocabulary set for each of the 10 books in Volume 1, Unit 1
• Open-ended activities that work with any words, so you can bring back words from earlier weeks
• Answer keys for the activities and assessments
• Links to Google Slides versions for digital practice

Books used in this unit:

• First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
• Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack
• My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco
• Fireflies! by Julie Brinckloe
• Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse
• The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
• Verdi by Janell Cannon
• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
• I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll

Why teach vocabulary this way?

Many tier 2 words aren’t new ideas for students. They’re more precise ways to say things students already say with simpler words: trudged instead of “walked slowly,” or weary instead of “really tired.” Students will meet these words again and again, in books and in conversation, so they’re worth teaching well. When students learn a word inside a story they already know, the book shows them exactly what the word adds. Using each word several times, in different ways, helps students start choosing it in their own writing and speaking.

Want to read more about how I teach vocabulary?

• Teaching Vocabulary in Context: My Journey from Mistakes to Mastery
• 3 Big Reasons Why You Should Throw Out the Vocabulary List
• Make Vocabulary Stick With These Five Activities

Use the same books all year:

These are the same ten books as my Volume 1, Unit 1 mentor sentences, so students can study a sentence from each book for grammar and its words for vocabulary. For reading and writing with the same books, take a look at the Better Than Basal reading and writing units for the 40 Volume 1 books.

Want everything for these books in one place? My Yearlong Mentor Text Curriculum, Volume 1 covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing for all 40 Volume 1 books, plus 5 bonus units.

Want all four units? The Volume 1 vocabulary bundle has all 40 books. Want to try one week first? Download my free Come On, Rain! vocabulary activities, a week from this unit.

This purchase is for one teacher. Please don’t share the files with other teachers. Thank you!

Copyright © 2017 Ideas By Jivey, LLC
All rights reserved by author, Jessica Ivey.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display.