Vocabulary Development & Word Knowledge Flashcards

Which instructional approach is most effective for developing Tier 2 vocabulary in elementary students?

Answer: Rich, contextualized instruction with multiple exposures across content areas

Tier 2 words are best learned through rich, contextualized instruction with repeated exposure across varied contexts, which builds deep word knowledge.

A student encounters the word 'prehistoric' and uses knowledge of the prefix 'pre-' to determine its meaning. Which vocabulary strategy is the student using?

Answer: Morphological analysis

Morphological analysis involves using knowledge of word parts such as prefixes, suffixes, and roots to determine a word's meaning.

According to Beck, McKeown, and Kucan's vocabulary framework, which type of words represents high-frequency academic vocabulary found across many content areas?

Answer: Tier 2 words

Tier 2 words are high-frequency academic words that appear across content areas (e.g., 'analyze,' 'conclude') and are the primary instructional focus.

Which activity best supports students in developing semantic knowledge of new vocabulary words?

Answer: Completing a Frayer Model with definition, characteristics, examples, and non-examples

The Frayer Model deepens semantic understanding by requiring students to connect the word to definitions, characteristics, examples, and non-examples.

A teacher reads aloud daily and pauses to explain unfamiliar words during the reading. This practice primarily supports vocabulary growth through which mechanism?

Answer: Incidental word learning in context

Read-aloud with contextual explanations promotes incidental word learning, allowing students to acquire vocabulary naturally through meaningful exposure.

Which of the following is a primary characteristic of an 'anchor word' strategy in vocabulary instruction?

Answer: Connecting a new word to a well-known word or concept to build meaning

The anchor word strategy connects a new, unfamiliar word to a known concept or word, helping students build meaning from prior knowledge.

What does research indicate about the number of exposures a student typically needs to a new word before it enters their productive vocabulary?

Answer: 4–6 meaningful exposures across varied contexts

Research consistently shows that students need approximately 4–6 meaningful, varied exposures to a word to move it into productive vocabulary use.