Pre Teach Vocab
Pre Teach Vocab
Pre Teach Vocab
Middle Years
Vocabulary- Pre-teaching
Introduction
The primary consideration for pre-teaching vocabulary should be which words need to be clarified for
students so that those words dont get in the way of comprehension (Beck, McKeown & Kucan, 2008).
Teachers can introduce both the more unfamiliar specialised content area words that will be used in the
lesson as well as non-specialised academic words used when talking about the content or during or after the
reading of a text.
Purpose
Pre-teaching vocabulary facilitates the reading of new text by giving students the meanings of the words
before they encounter them. This practice reduces the number of unfamiliar words encountered and
facilitates greater comprehension.
Teaching steps
1. Teacher previews text/topic to select words to pre-teach (as well as words to be taught during and after
reading). Usually no more than three to five words should be selected for pre-teaching.
Once vocabulary words have been selected for pre teaching the attention they get before reading should
be brief. The kind of work that is needed for students to know a word may distract students attention from
the text that is about to be read. Also, when words are taught before reading, instruction cannot take
advantage of the context in which the word is used. If too many words are presented without being
contextualised they may appear to be a random set of words (Beck et al, 2008).
3. Provide the words meaning through a student friendly definition (Beck & McKeown, 2002). Think about
how the word is typically used and provide a meaning in everyday language. Dictionary definitions are not
always helpful in providing a clear definition of a word for students.
For example:
devious straying from the straight If someone is devious, he is using tricky and
course; not straightforward secretive ways to do something dishonest.
devious Steven was devious when he told his friends different reasons for the lost
ball.
vicarious Sally had vicarious pleasure in watching a video of the concert she could not
attend because she was sick.
jaded We had both become jaded, disinterested and disillusioned.
exotic She looked very exotic in the brightly coloured dress bought when she was
overseas.
5. Read the text and clarify words that have been the focus of pre-teaching if necessary.
Technology Tip
http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-cobuild/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/