Tier 2 Academic Vocabulary Grade 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 | CCSS ELA Tier 2 Vocabulary
CCSS ELA: Tier 2 & Tier 3 Academic VocabularyTier 1 Academic Vocabulary: Basic words that commonly appear in spoken language. Because they are heard frequently in numerous contexts and with nonverbal communication, Tier 1 words rarely require explicit instruction.Examples of Tier 1 words are clock, baby, happy and walk.
Tier 2 Academic Vocabulary: Less high frequency words used by mature language users across several academic content areas. Because of their lack of redundancy in oral language and their multiple meaning or descriptive nature, Tier 2 words present challenges to students who primarily meet them in print and on test. Examples of Tier 2 words are obvious, complex, establish and verify.
Tier 3 Academic Vocabulary: Low Frequency words that are not frequently used except in specific academic content areas or domains. Tier 3 words are central to building backgrounds knowledge and conceptual understanding within the various academic domains and should be integral to instruction of content. Medical, legal, biology and mathematics terms are all examples of these words.
The new CCSS ELA for reading and English language arts are three standard deviations above many States passing cut scores (NCLB testing mandate). A (CCSS) white paper to publishers and curriculum developers states a greater focus on Tier 2 high frequency academic vocabulary is needed in the primary grades. Teachers will have a few years to learn and prepare before the new standards are in effect and part of high stakes testing. Preparing students is the proverbial fly in the ointment, meeting the challenge will be virtually impossible to reach in the time allotted. What next? Endless teacher in-service training?
I have used variations of Tier 2 high frequency academic vocabulary plus the NWEA tier 3 academic content specific vocabulary for years, but I have never found a qualitative graded tier 2 list! You will find great tier 3 vocabulary list by frequency, grade level, and content but not tier 2 vocabulary by grade level.
CCSS ELA
DOK Level 3 Question STEMS Samples
Fiction DOK STEM | What key details or examples (e.g. dialogue or feelings) in the text can you draw on too explain the antagonists reactions?
Fiction DOK STEM | What evidence do you cite when determining the main idea? Explain why you think that is the main idea!
Non Fiction DOK STEM | What text features (e.g. charts or illustrations) can you use to appraise facts for validity? Are charts an illustrations always based on facts?
Non Fiction DOK STEM | Did you asses the authors use of literary elements or literary techniques when drawing conclusions
/inferences from the text? How does the author use literary elements or literary techniques to develop key ideas?
WEBB'S DOK Verbs | Tier 2 Vocabulary
Level 4
|
Level 3
|
Level 2
|
Level 1
|
Appraise
Connect
Create
Critique
Design
Judge
Justify
Prove
Report
Design
Synthesize
Analyze
|
Appraise
Assess
Check
Cite Evidence
Compare
Compile
Conclude
Construct
Contrast
Critique
Decide
Defend
Describe
Develop
Develop a Logical Argument
Differentiate
Distinguish
Draw Conclusions
Explain Phenomena in Terms of Concepts
Formulate
Hypothesize
Investigate
Predict
Relate
Revise
Separate
Show
Synthesize
Use Concepts to Solve Non-Routine Problems
|
Apply
Calculate
Categorize
Cause/Effect
Classify
Classify
Collect and Display
Compare
Compute
Construct
Convert
Describe
Determine
Distinguish
Estimate
Explain
Extend
Extrapolate
Find
Formulate
Generalize
Graph
Identify patterns
Infer
Interpolate
Interpret
Make Observations
Modify
Observe
Organize
Predict
Relate
Represent
Separate
Show
Simplify
Solve
Sort
Use |
Arrange
Calculate
Cite
Define
Describe
Draw
Draw
Identify
Explain
Give examples
Identify
Illustrate
Label
List
Locate
Match
Measure
Memorize
Name
Perform
Quote
Recall
Recite
Recognize
Record
Repeat
Report
Select
State
Summarize
Tabulate
Tell
Use
Who, What, When, Where, Why |
Level 4
|
Level 3
|
Level 2
|
Level 1
|
Tier 1 Basic words that commonly appear in spoken language. Because they are heard frequently in numerous contexts and with nonverbal communication, Tier 1 words rarely require explicit instruction.Examples of Tier 1 words are clock, baby, happy and walk.
Tier 2 High frequency words used by mature language users across several content areas. Because of their lack of redundancy in oral language, Tier 2 words present challenges to students who primarily meet them in print and on test. Examples of Tier 2 words are obvious, complex, establish and verify.
Tier 3 Words that are not frequently used except in specific content areas or domains. Tier 3 words are central to building knowledge and conceptual understanding within the various academic domains and should be integral to instruction of content. Medical, legal, biology and mathematics terms are all examples of these words.
TIER 2 High Frequency Academic Vocabulary Words
accelerate, achieve, adjacent, alternative, analyze, approach, approximate, arbitrary,assert, assess, assign, assume, authorize, automatic, chapter, compensate, complex,complicate, comply, component, comprehend, conceive, concentrate, concept,
conclude, consequence, consist, constant, construct, consult, context, contrast,contribute, convert, create, criterion, crucial, data, define, definite
demonstrate, denote, derive, design, devise, devote, dimension, distinct, distort,element, emphasize, empirical, ensure, entity, environment, equate, equivalent,establish, evaluate,evident, expand, expose, external, feasible, fluctuate, focus,formulate, function, generate, guarantee, hypothesis, identify, ignore, illustrate,
impact, implicit, imply, indicate, individual, inhibit
initial, innovation, intense, interpret, intuitive, involve, isolate, magnetic, magnitude,major, manipulate, mathematics, method, minimum, modify, negative, notion, obtain,obvious, occur, passive, period, perspective, pertinent, phase, phenomena, portion,
portion, potential, precede, precise, presume, prime, principle, proceed, publish,pursue, random, range, react
region, require, respective, restrict, reverse, role, section, segment, select, sequence,series, shift, signify, similar, simultaneous, sophisticated, species, specify, stable,statistic, status, structure, subsequent, suffice, sum, summary, technique, technology,
tense, theory, trace, tradition, transmit, ultimate, undergo, usage, valid, vary, verbal,verify, vertical
High Incidence Academic
Vocabulary
Kid-Friendly Glossary &
Examples
(Tier 2) Level One
analyze
To study something
carefully in order to understand it or learn more about it.
"Elise needed to analyze
the test question - What exactly was the question asking
for?"
approach
To move closer to someone
or something.
"Mr. Kyes will approach
Mr. Taylor to ask if Damian is at grade level."
area
The measurement of the
surface inside the boundaries of something (square units) .
"Mrs. Garcia's kitchen
wall was eight feet high and ten feet wide; to paint this wall she needed a can of paint
to cover an area of eighty square feet.
assess
To judge or figure out the
value of something, both good and bad values.
"The coach had to assess
his players to decide which one would play first base."
assume
To suppose that something
is true without checking first. "Ellie assumed that she
would get a high score on her math test without studying, but her score was
low...
authority
The right or power to make
rules and see that the rules are followed. "Mr. Taylor has authority
in his class; the Fire Department
has authority at a fire scene."
available
Able to be used or gotten. "The
last Harry Potter movie should be really exciting, but it's not available
yet."
benefit
Something that helps good
to happen.
"Suzette was great at
playing soccer; a real benefit
to her team!"
concept
An idea or thought. "
'Is that your concept of fair play?' shouted the coach when Elton
intentionally tripped the runner." consist
To be made up of something.
"Her favorite chocolate fudge consists of sugar, corn syrup,
cocoa, butter, milk, and chopped walnuts."
constitute
To be something or a part
of something.
" 'Helping me to get
up does not constitute an apology!' said Elsbet angrily, after
Harry had knocked her down."
context
The words and phrases that
surround a word or sentence, and help to understand the meaning of the word or
sentence. "I said that I don't trust dishonest people, not that I
don't trust all people;
you've taken the words out of context!"
contract
A document of formal or
legal agreement.
"Mr. and Mrs. Young
signed a contract with the apartment owner. The Young’s agreed to
pay rent each month for a year, and the owner agreed that they could live in
the apartment for a year."
create
To make something. "In
art class Ms. Miller explained how to create a cereal bowl from
wet, grey clay."
data
Information, often in the
form of facts or numbers. "Mr. Taylor wrote down the class test scores in
his notebook, and then entered that data in his computer."
define
To describe something
exactly. "That row of barbed-wire fence defines the edge of
Grandpa's field."
derive
To get something from a
source. "The word 'home' derives from an Old English
word which meant a place to lie down and rest."
distribute
To give something out to a
number of people. "Mr. Taylor will distribute 'Kid-Friendly Glossary & Examples' sheets
to his class."
economy
Getting something done in
the most effective way, with the best results for the amount of effort, money,
and material used.
"Harry was the best
jumper on our track team; he smoothly
cleared the top rail of the high jump with great economy of
motion."
environment
All that surrounds
something. "The aquarium tank contains the environment of
Patrick's angel fish; the
forest is the environment
of the crested woodpecker."
Establish To start or set
up something that is meant to last a long time. "The University of
Michigan was established in 1834."
estimate
A rough calculation, an
educated guess.
"Nine years old is my estimate
of Theo's age."
evident
Obvious or easy to
understand. "He couldn't answer any of his partner's questions. It was evident that Jake hadn't
read his assignment."
export
To send goods for sale to
another country.
"Mr. Stevens needed to
update his export license before he could sell his wheat to
Portugal."
factor
Something that is part of
what makes another thing happen. "Eating a balanced diet and exercising
are factors in staying healthy." Also, "Not
paying attention in class and not doing homework are factors in
failing a test."
finance
To raise or provide money
for something or someone. "I'd like to buy that new truck, but I don't
think I can finance that much money right now."
formula
A rule that is written in
symbols and numbers. "The formula for the area of a
rectangle is A = b *
h " (area = base * height)."
function
The purpose for which
something is designed or used. "The function of the school
bus is to carry students to and from school."
identify
To recognize and name
something or somebody. "Hector identified the jacket that he
had lost; it was in the school's
'Lost and Found' box."
income
Money received over a
period of time for work done or goods sold. "Todd worked part-time that
summer and earned an income of $300. "
indicate
To show or point out
something. "Jasmine said that she liked her aunt's cake, but her
sour face indicated that she really didn't like it." Also, "The
thermometer indicates that it's a very hot day."
interpret
To find or explain the meaning
of something. Also, to translate the
meaning of words from one language into another language.
"The poem wrote about
flowers and winds, but at the poetry reading the poem was interpreted
to be about sadness and loneliness. " Also, "Wendy sat close to the
new kindergartener to interpret for her."
involve
To include something as
necessary.
"Making a cake involves
measuring, mixing, baking, and decorating."
issue
The main idea to be talked
about, or a particular publication (magazine, stamp, stocks or bonds). "
'That's not the issue,' said Ricardo. 'We were going to plan a
surprise party, not talk about the weather!'
"
Also, "Do you have the
December 2010 issue of
'National Geographic'? "
labor
Physical work, especially
using strength; or the group of all workers of a country or industry. "The
labor union at the Chevrolet plant was telling the automobile
workers not to go to work in the
morning." Also,
"Making the beautiful
flower arrangement for her mother was a labor of love."
legal
Allowed by law, or related
to law and courts of law. "Speeding on the city streets is not legal."
legislate
To write and pass laws. "The
candidate promised to legislate to make more jobs
available."
major
Of great importance, size,
or seriousness; also, a military title. "Major
Samuelson announced that the weather satellite showed a major
storm coming into southern Arizona."
method
A way of doing something;
orderliness.
"The lattice method
is one way to multiply; long
division is one method of dividing."
occur
To happen, or to come into
one's mind.
"What time will that occur? It just occurred to me that we
are late!"
percent
Used to express a
proportion in hundredths, sometimes with the ' %' sign. "Elizabeth knew
that 'percent' meant
'per hundred'. That's why
'70%' is the same as '70 hundredths' or '.70
' or '70/100' . "
period
A punctuation mark(.)
used at the end of a sentence or in abbreviations; also a division of playing time in some
sports. "It didn't look good. The U
of A Wildcats hadn't scored at all by the end of the first period."
policy
A way of acting that is
used by a person, or group or government. "It was Grandfather's policy
to never charge anything on credit. He
would not buy at all if he couldn't pay cash."
principle
The basic way something
works; also, the model of quality
or right-and-wrong that people follow in life. "I try to always tell the
truth, as a matter of principle."
proceed
To go on to do something.
"After the guard
checked Mrs. Slone's identification, he told her to proceed into
the building."
process
A number of actions done to
make a special thing happen. Registering to vote is a careful process: First, you must show that you are a citizen
and are at least 18 years old. Then you must show that you live in this
county.
require
To need something or
somebody.
"Mary's dog requires
a rabies vaccination before it can get a dog license."
research
To look for facts in a
careful, organized way for the purpose of learning about something, or telling
whether what you already know is true or not. "Elliot began his research
with the 1938 passenger lists of a steamship.
He wanted to find out how his grandfather first came to America."
respond
To give an answer. "The
dog will always respond to a knock on the door by loud
barking!"
role
An acting part in a movie,
play, or other performance; also, an
expected way that someone or something. "At the neighborhood
potluck, Martha's role was to set out the cold food while Paul
fired up the grill and Kathryn filled the cooler with Pepsi and 7-Up."
section
A distinct part of the
whole of something.
"Luz separated the
tangerine into 12 sections."
sector
A pie-shaped part of a
circle; also, a part of an area where military forces are in control.
"The General's plan
called for Sector B to move out at dawn."
significant
Meaningful, or having an
important effect.
"Jessie's home run was
significant in helping her team to win the game."
similar
Like something else, but
not totally the same. "The two trucks were similar: both were 2005 pickups, but one was black and
one was red."
source
The person, place, or thing
where something started or was found. "Grandmother looked for the source
of the leak that was making a puddle on the kitchen floor." Also,
"What is the source
of the information in your science report?"
specific
Description that is exact
and detailed enough to identify a particular person, place, or thing. "The
doctor gave specific instructions to Heather's nurse."
structure
Something built; or the way
parts go together and work together. "That old iron bridge is an
interesting structure;
look how all the pieces fit together!"
theory
An idea or set of ideas
about how and why things work together. "Sylvia had a theory about
how to increase her vocabulary."
vary
To change something.
"Max would vary
his lunch. Sometimes he had a peanut
butter-and-jelly sandwich; sometimes he
had pizza."
More High-incidence Tier 2 Academic Word List
initial
Of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first; the
first letter of a word or name. President George Washington's initials were
GW, and he was the initial president of the U.S.A.
instance
An example that makes a point.
The Harry Potter books, for instance,
have proven to be popular with both children and adults.
interact
To act upon
each other.
When a soccer ball and your foot interact, the
ball can go quite a distance.
You are supposed to interact with your partner
when you are reading "cop cars" style.
justify
To provide an acceptable explanation for something.
It is hard to justify not completing an
assignment when Mr. Taylor has given you two hours in class to work on it.
layer
A single thickness of the same material or covering.
Sydney brought a chocolate layer cake to class
for her birthday.
link
1) A connection between places, persons, events or things;
to join together.
1) Example: When writing your Read and Response
paragraph, you must link the details to the topic sentence.
2) One piece of a chain or other group of connected items.
2) Example: Each link in the anchor chain of a
large ship weighs many pounds.
2) Example: Do you like link sausage?
locate
To place; to set in a chosen spot or position; to place
yourself; to settle; to take up your home.
Many people locate in Tucson because they like
the warm winters.
maximize
To make as large as possible.
If you want to maximize your enjoyment of Mr.
Taylor's class, you must follow instructions.
minor
Of little importance.
The punctuation errors in Michael's paragraph were minor.
negate
To deny the existence, evidence or truth of; to take the
opposite position; to cause negative results.
One good Read and Response will not negate ten
bad ones.
outcome
How something turns out; the result of a plan, process,
accident or effort.
If you do a good job of completing all your assignments in
Mr. Taylor's class, you will have a good outcome.
partner
Someone who works or plays with another person.
Alyia was my cop cars reading partner.
philosophy
A view or outlook on some subject.
One philosophy of life says that if you work
hard and do your best, you will be successful.
physical
Having to do with the body or material world.
Science studies the physical world.
proportion
A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or
number.
One way to make certain a piece of cake will be cut into two
pieces of equal proportion is to have one person cut the cake,
and the other person choose the first slice.
publish
To issue a printed work for sale and distribution; to enter
information on an internet site.
Mr. Taylor has been able to publish a book on Reading
Boot Camp, and he also publishes information about reading on
his website.
react
To respond in some way to a force, idea, surprise, etc.
It is hard not to react to some of the action
in a 3D movie.
register
To sign up for something like school or soccer; to have an
idea "sink in" to your brain.
About 100 children register for kindergarten
at Rio Vista every year.
rely
To trust; to depend upon.
If you want to be successful you must learn to rely
on yourself to get your work done.
remove
To take something away.
It is very hard to remove permanent marker
designs from your hands.
scheme
A plan for future action; to plan something sneaky.
The students had a secret scheme to surprise
the teacher on her birthday.
sequence
The order of events or things.
Every game has a sequence that must be
followed.
sex
Either of two main classes (male or female) of an organism.
What sex is that hamster?
shift
To change; to move from one place to another; to change
position.
Mr. Taylor had to shift the tables around for
the new class.
specify
To state clearly or in detail.
Mr. Taylor will specify the information that
has to be included in your science report.
sufficient
Enough; able to meet
We'll die in the desert if we do not drink sufficient
water.
task
A piece of assigned work; an assignment; an objective; a job
One task I had as a child was washing dishes.
technical
Having to do with science or machines; the specific words
used in science, math, engineering, business, etc.
Flint Technical High School had technical
courses, including math, science, drafting and machine shop.
technique
A special skill or set of skills needed to be good at
something: painting; sports; surgery; writing, etc.
Famous painters each have some technique that
makes their artwork special.
technology
The tools and science produced by a given society.
There is technology in your classroom that
didn't exist just a few years ago.
valid
Correct; proper; true
It is against the law to drive a car unless you have a valid
driver's license.
volume
The amount of something (homework); the loudness of sound;
amount of space, measured in cubic centimeters, cubic, inches, cubic feet, or
pints, quarts, gallons, liters. etc.
Mr. Taylor turns up the volume on the music he
plays during our brain breaks.
