Vocabulary · Tier 2: academic words
Spaced retrieval practice
Bring back taught words in short quizzes and tasks days and weeks later, as well as in the lesson where they were taught. Recalling a word several times over a period of time helps students remember and use it.
- Bands
- 2 to 5
- Stages
- Upper elementary, Middle school and High school
- Settings
- Mainstream class, Push-in support, Pull-out support, Small group and At home
- Prep
- Low prep
How to do it
- Keep a list of the words taught this term.
- Start lessons with three to five quick questions on words from last week, last month and last term.
- Vary the format: definition to word, word to sentence, picture to word, odd one out.
- Students answer from memory first, then check.
- Reteach any word that most of the class has forgotten.
In a lesson
Maths (middle school)
The starter asks: What is the opposite of increase? Use estimate in a sentence. In 3/4, which number is the denominator? Students write their answers on mini whiteboards, then check with a partner.
What commonly goes wrong
- Quizzes only cover this week’s words.
- It is marked like a test, which raises anxiety.
- Words most students got wrong are not followed up.
Adapting it
For a lower band
Use picture prompts and let students answer with a single word or a gesture.
For a higher band
Ask for the word in a sentence, using a different form of the word.