Teaching Vocabulary via Tier Words

(from Beck, McKeown, and Kucan, Bringing Words to Life, 2002)

Tier 1

This is the base tier and represents basic words such as milk, smile, and jump. Words in this tier rarely require instructional attention.

Tier 2

These words appear frequently in a wide variety of texts and provide mature language users with precise ways to refer to familiar ideas. Words such as darting, exceptional, and rummage are examples. Tier Two words represent the bulk of vocabulary instruction. These words need to be posted and kept in circulation so that students practice applying them in varied contexts over an extended period of time.

Tier 3

Words such inlet, quadrilateral, and isotope are in this tier. Tier 3 words are typically emphasized as part of a thematic or content area instruction. Posting these words on a topic wall encourages their use when discussing or writing on specific topics.

Procedure

1. Choose three target words from the text

2. Create student-friendly explanations for target words.

3. During reading, pause to find out if the students understand the sentences containing the target words.

4. After reading, require the students to apply the target words in varied contexts.

5. Post target words and develop routines that keep the target words in circulation.

Implement routines that invite students to identify interesting words.