Teach word-learning strategies — context clues, word parts (morphology), and cognates — so students can independently figure out word meanings¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

As part of intensive vocabulary instruction, teach word-learning strategies to help students independently figure out the meaning of words. The guide illustrates three strategies with the zoo text: using "Context clues" from surrounding sentences, analyzing "Word parts (morphology)" such as natural versus unnatural environment, and leveraging "Cognates" like option/opción in Spanish, opção in Portuguese, and opsyon in Haitian Creole. It also shows rewriting a complex sentence to model reducing linguistic complexity.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Target words with affixes, multiple meanings, or cross-language potential make the strategies teachable

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• English learners in elementary and middle school, including multilingual students whose home languages offer cognates

Target Learning Goals¶

• Independent word-meaning inference; academic vocabulary growth

Related Strategies¶

• Greek And Latin Number Prefixes
• Latin And Greek Roots For Academic Vocabulary
• Morphological Analysis Instruction
• Greek Combining Forms
• Latin Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
• Morphological Analysis of Latin and Greek Roots
• Morphological Awareness Instruction

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Baker, S., Geva, E., Kieffer, M. J., Lesaux, N., Linan-Thompson, S., Morris, J., Proctor, C. P., & Russell, R. (2014). Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School. What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide/19