- English Language Arts and Reading
- Grade 4
- Developing and sustaining foundational language skills
identifying and reading high-frequency words from a research-based list;
Provide a list of grade-level high-frequency words. Using a variety of grade-appropriate texts across various content areas, have students work in pairs to identify high-frequency words in a text. Instruct students to work together to record each high-frequency word they find. Once students have identified these words, they should take turns reading the words aloud to their partners.
Note:
Depending on the length of the text, students can look for high-frequency words independently in a specific section of the text. Then, they can come together to read the words they found.
This assessment requires students to identify and read high-frequency words. This knowledge is acquired through practice and experience with identifying and reading high-frequency words and is built upon as students becomes proficient with high-frequency words at lower grade levels.
Kieffer, M. J., & Lesaux, N.K. (2007). Breaking down words to build meaning: morphology, vocabulary, and reading comprehension in the urban classroom: when it comes to teaching vocabulary, a little knowledge (of root words, prefixes, and suffixes) goes a long way. The Reading Teacher, 61(2), 134+. Retrieved from https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A169960879/PROF?u=tea&sid=PROF&xid=1af4396d
Summary: The authors describe the challenges faced by students who have limited academic vocabulary. These students struggle with comprehension as texts increase in complexity. When teachers implement a balanced classroom approach that combines explicit instruction with decoding strategies, students will increase vocabulary skills. The authors break down the meaning of morphology and apply it to instruction.