Introduce Vocabulary: Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner (Schwartz)

From FreeReading

What to Do

Prepare

Select three Tier Two vocabulary words to teach your students. A list of suggested words appears below. Write the vocabulary words on the board or on chart paper.

Model/Instruct

1. Introduce the story.

Today we are going to read a story entitled Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner.

2. Introduce the three vocabulary words you have chosen.

Before we read the story, I want to introduce some new words that we will come across. Please repeat each word after I say it.

3. Read the story.

Let’s read the story. Make sure to listen for today’s vocabulary words and to think about how they are used in the story. If you hear a vocabulary word while I am reading, raise your hand.

4. Define key vocabulary words. See definitions below.

Let’s think about our vocabulary words. The word ______________ means ____________. Does anyone remember how this word was used in the text?

Call on students to answer the question. Then refer to the text to show how the word was used in context. Repeat this process for each vocabulary word.

Practice

Now let’s practice what we’ve learned.

coat

Coat means to cover something with a thin layer. What's the word?

After the woman baked a cake, she coated it with frosting. When you apply nail polish, you coat your fingernails.

I'm going to name some liquids. If you think you might use these liquids to cover your artwork, say coat. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• Glittery paint
• A shiny varnish
• Milk
• Soap
• Ketchup

glare

Glare means to stare in an angry way. What's the word?

She glared at the person who interrupted her. If someone is rude to you, you might glare at him.

I'm going to name some people. If you think these people would stare angrily at each other, say glare. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• Hockey players from opposite teams
• Dance partners
• People who have gotten into a traffic accident
• A dog and a cat who don’t like each other
• Little babies playing blocks together

infinity

Infinity is a word for something that never ends. What's the word?

Outer space seems to be an infinity. When you try to count until the end, you find out that numbers get higher and higher. This is an infinity.

I'm going to say some things. If you think these things go on forever, say infinity. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• The number of jelly beans in a package
• The number of stars in the sky
• Miles in space
• Children in your school
• Crayons in a box

practice

Practice means to do something over and over again to get very good at it.

A person who wants to be a good piano player must practice a lot. If you are trying to make the soccer team, you should practice every day.

I'm going to name some things we do. If you think we need to practice these things to get good at them, say practice. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• Sleeping
• Spelling
• Reading
• Eating
• Baseball

recognize

Recognize means to remember that you’ve seen or heard something before. What's the word?

You will recognize someone that you met yesterday. The child didn't recognize his grandma since he hadn't seen her in five years.

I'm going to list some people. If you would remember these people, say recognize. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• The doctor your mama used to see when she was a little girl
• Your best friend's dad
• The man who was your waiter once five years ago
• Your teacher
• Someone your dad knows but you’ve never met

straighten

Straighten means to change something so that it’s no longer bent or messed up. What's the word?

The man turned the steering wheel to straighten the tires. You wear braces to straighten your teeth. I'm going to name some items.

If these are things that you might straighten, say straighten. Otherwise, don't say anything. Just sit quietly. Ready?

• A picture on the wall
• A ruler
• Books on a coffee table
• A tall building
• Messy covers on your bed

Adjust

For Advanced Students:

If time permits, have students create more examples for the vocabulary words.

For Struggling Students:

If time permits, have students record the words on a Vocabulary Discovery Chart or in a Word Journal.

For ELL Students:

In order to help ELL students learn the words, it may be helpful to use realia and/or to teach cognates.

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