Academic Language Words for High School
Program Description
High school teachers know the importance of teaching academic vocabulary. Whether reading complex informational text in English, Social Studies, Computer Science and Technology, Science, or cramming for vocabulary-dense ACT, SAT, AP or other tests, these words are the gateways to reading comprehension. But which words should we teach?
Fortunately, we have a research-based study to inform our choice of words: The Academic Word List, developed by Dr. Averil Coxhead. This resource lists generalizable Tier 2 academic words by frequency of use in the Academic Corpus. The program author has grouped the upper-level words from Dr. Coxhead’s study in sets of 56 words for levels 9, 10, 11, and 12. A total of 224 must-know high school level Tier 2 words.
This quick, bellringer-style program is formatted with the research-based Frayer Model four-square graphic organizers. These Frayer worksheets feature the following squares:
- The focus vocabulary word, part of speech, and a short student-friendly definition
- “Similar to…”
- “Different than…”
- “Example, Characteristics, or Picture”
Following each four-square graphic, a space is provided for “Related Words.” Teachers may choose to help students brainstorm words with the same morphemes, list changes in parts of speech, inflections, or conjugations, or write context clue sentences (guided by the Frayer Model) clues to show the meaning of each word. Simply print one worksheet per week, per student.
In addition to the worksheets, the program provides 7 biweekly matching quizzes in self-correcting Google forms for each level for a total of 28 quizzes. These assessments can also be used as a diagnostic to indicate which level to begin instruction and as a final summative exam. Most teachers choose to add a few previous weekly words to each biweekly quiz to ensure continuous review and accountability for cumulative vocabulary knowledge. One easy-prep idea is to post the review words (the author suggests 4 per quiz). Students are required to write each word in context clue sentences.
Sample pages
2 pages from the program · click any page to zoomFAQ
Questions teachers ask
Which words does the program teach?
It uses the Academic Word List developed by Dr. Averil Coxhead, which lists generalizable Tier 2 academic words by frequency in the Academic Corpus. The author grouped the upper-level words into sets of 56 for levels 9, 10, 11, and 12, a total of 224 words.
How much class time does it take?
It is a bellringer-style program. You print one worksheet per week per student.
What is on a worksheet?
Each Frayer Model four-square worksheet has the focus word with its part of speech and a short student-friendly definition, a similar to square, a different than square, and an example, characteristics, or picture square, followed by a space for related words.
How are students quizzed?
Each level includes 7 biweekly matching quizzes in self-correcting Google Forms, for a total of 28 quizzes across the four levels.
How do I know which level to start a student on?
The quizzes can be used as a diagnostic to indicate which level to begin instruction, and also as a final summative exam.
How do I build in review?
Most teachers add a few previous weekly words to each biweekly quiz for cumulative accountability. The author suggests posting four review words per quiz and having students write each one in context clue sentences.
