Learning Academic Vocabulary
Robert Marzano’s Six-Step Vocabulary Instruction Process
Step 1
• The teacher provides a description, explanation, or example of the new term.
polder
polder
Student writes vocabulary word and circles degree of understanding.
Step 2
• Students restate the explanation of the new term/vocabulary in their own words.
Examples of Student Work
Examples of Student Work
Examples of Student Work
Examples of Student Work
Step 3
• Students create a non-linguistic representation of the term.
Step 4
• Students participate in activities that help them add to their knowledge.
Highlight a prefix or suffix that will help them remember the meaning of a word.
Examples: hydroelectric power Mesopotamia Subsistence agriculture Democracy, autocracy, oligarchy
Step 4 continued)
List related words
Step 5
• Students are asked to discuss terms with one another.
Think-Pair-Share• THINK: Students review their own
descriptions individually and quietly.• PAIR: Organize the students in pairs
within their groups and ask them to discuss their descriptions and pictures of the terms with their partners.
• SHARE: Students share with the class any new insights.
Step 6• Students are involved in games that
allow them to “play” with new terms.Name That Term
• Teacher calls out clues about the new vocabulary term.
• Students in each group collaborate to come up with the correct answer.
• One student from each group writes the answer on a small white board and holds it up for the teacher to see.
• First group to answer correctly wins.• Each member of the group takes turns being
the scribe.