(SEI/500) Academic Vocabulary Assessments: Professional Development Presentation for best practices in assessing vocabulary for English Language Learners. -Amanda Wardlow-Cosey

1. PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
PRESENTATION
Best Practices in Assessing Vocabulary for English Language Learners
Amanda Wardlow-Cosey
SEI/500 – Professor Hicks
April 30, 2018

2. Social Studies Lesson: The students will read the story, “Sacagawea’s Journey into History”,
which takes place after the Louisiana Purchase. The story chronicles the bilingual Shoshone
woman, Sacagawea (c. 1788 – 1812), who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition of
discovery in 1805-06 from the northern plains through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific
Ocean and back. In addition, the students will study the text to record significant events along the
journey in correct time and sequence; complete text dependent questions and a short response.
Grade level: 3rd
grade Social Studies
Content Objective: The students will use the passage from the text to learn how to recall
information about time and sequence.
Language Objective: The students will describe the relationship between a series of historical
events, using language and vocabulary that pertains to time and sequence.
Target Vocabulary Words from the Lesson: Time, sequence, relationships, camas, whale,
settlement, difficult, buffalo hide, Fort Clatsop, Shoshone Tribe, Jean Baptiste, historical, journey,
and translator
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3. Three Ways to Effectively Review Academic Vocabulary Words for the Lesson:
1. Use the Frayer Model. The Frayer Model is a graphic organizer for building student
vocabulary; or identifying and defining unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary. This technique
requires students to define target vocabulary and apply their knowledge by generating examples
and non-examples, giving characteristics, and/or drawing a picture to illustrate the meaning of the
word.
2. Create a Word Wall. It posts the words, definitions and picture models the students have
studied. A word wall is a simple display of the vocabulary words you have asked your students to
learn to during the lesson. As the students learn more words throughout the year, the words are
posted on the wall as well. This strategy is helpful because as students look around the
classroom, they are exposed to words they have already had direct instruction on. It also helps to
reiterate meaning and encourages students to apply the vocabulary words.
3. Play Games. Stimulate students and enhance their vocabulary comprehension with mini
review games. Divide students into two or more teams. Give each team one minute to list as many
words as possible from the current lesson on a piece of paper. The team with the most words
must explain the definition of each word. If they miss a definition, the other team can take over
explaining those definitions to win. If you have a word wall, cover it during this game. To modify it
for ELLs and SPED students, provide students with the first letter of the words or pictures of the
words before they complete their list.
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4. Formative Assessment
Matching
1. ____ Buffalo Hide A. What was their winter quarters called?
2. ____ Fort Clatsop B. What Indian tribe is Sacagawea from?
3. ____ Shoshone C. What were Sacagawea's clothes made from?
4. ____ Salmon and Trout D. What is Sacagawea's son's name?
5. ____ Jean Baptiste E. What did Shoshone fish for?
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5. Summative Assessment:
This exam has two parts. Read the directions carefully and choose only ONE correct answer for
each question.
Part I: Fill in the blank with the vocabulary words below.
1. Lewis and Clark needed a _______ to help them communicate.
2. _______ is a measurement of event in the past, present, and future.
3. Sacagawea helped the group establish ________.
4. The journey was _________ because of bad weather.
5. The ________ of events must be in order.
6. A ________ is where people establish a community.
7. The story was based on ________ facts from the past.
Time Sequence Relationships Historical
Translator Settlement Difficult
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6. Part II: Multiple Choice
Read each question. Choose only ONE correct answer from the answer choices below.
1. What did the captains want to do with the whale?
a) use the blubber for food and oil
b) carrying a boat between waters
c) name it after Sacagawea
2. How did they make salt?
a) golden dollar
b) boiled ocean water left salt on sides of pot
c) working beside the women of the tribe
3. What was Sacagawea's nickname?
a) Sacagawea
b) Bird woman
c) Toussaint Charbonneau
4. What is camas?
a) root plant with blue flowers
b) a city in Oregon
c) food, clothing and shelter
5. What states did they settle?
a) Idaho, Washington and Oregon
b) Jean Baptiste, Lewis and Clark
c) Washington, D.C.
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7. How would you determine whether your students understand and can use the targeted
vocabulary words?
The most effective way to test student understanding is to check during an active lesson.
Understanding must be measured and addressed as soon as students show a sign of confusion.
Avoid yes/no questions and ask specific questions that require students to use their own prior
knowledge. The use of formative assessments is a clever way to check for understanding.
Typically, a teacher should give a short quiz at the end of class, or the lesson, to check for
comprehension. Lastly, ask students to reflect to judge whether they can use the targeted
vocabulary words. During the last five minutes of class ask students to reflect on the lesson and
write down which vocabulary words they have learned. Then, ask them to use the vocabulary
words in a sentence.
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8. Sources
Briggs, S. (2014). 21 Ways to Check for Student Understanding. Retrieved from
https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/21-ways-to-check-for-student-
understanding/
Catapano, J. (2018). 5 Teaching Strategies for Reinforcing Vocabulary. Retrieved from
http://www.teachhub.com/5-teaching-strategies-reinforcing-vocabulary
Echevarria, J., Vogt, M., & Short, D. (2017). Making Content Comprehensible for English
Learners: Chapter 9 Review and Assessment. Retrieved from
https://phoenix.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781323413753/cfi/6/30!/4/2@0.00:0
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