Vocabulary
Domain 5: Vocabulary
This domain tests how readers learn word meanings and how teachers select and teach words. It covers receptive and expressive vocabulary, breadth and depth, tiered words, context clues, morphology, and multiple exposures.
Core rules
- Tier 1 words are everyday; Tier 2 are high-utility academic words; Tier 3 are domain-specific.
- Explicit instruction: student-friendly definition, examples and non-examples, context sentences, morphology, and opportunities to use the word.
- Context clues are useful but unreliable; teach word-learning strategies alongside direct instruction.
- Depth matters: semantic maps, word relationships, synonyms and antonyms, and word consciousness.
Worked example
A teacher chooses "reluctant" for a read-aloud. Reasoning: it is Tier 2, likely to appear across texts, and useful for discussion. A strong sequence gives a definition ("not wanting to do something"), examples ("reluctant to speak"), a non-example, a sentence from the text, and a partner prompt. A weak choice would be "photosynthesis" (Tier 3) for a general lesson or "happy" (Tier 1) for most students.
Traps
- Teaching too many words superficially.
- Relying on context alone for low-frequency words.
- Confusing Tier 2 with Tier 3.