TESOL Trainers: K12 Education Consultants
Connect
  • Home
  • English Learner Institute
    • Sign up with a credit card
    • Sign Up with a Purchase Order
  • K12 Professional Development
    • Remote Teacher Training >
      • Remote K12 Professional Development
    • SIOP Professional Development
    • TESOL Strategies Professional Development
    • Engaging Students in the Classroom
    • Scaffolding Professional Development
    • Active Listening Strategies
    • Academic Vocabulary Professional Development
    • K12 Best Practices Professional Development
    • Peer Coaching Professional Development
    • Working With English Learners Professional Development >
      • Strategies for ELs in Content Classes Professional Development
    • Reflective Teaching Practices Professional Development >
      • Reflective Teaching Practices For K12 Teachers
      • Conscious Competence Learning Matrix
    • ESL and World Languages Teachers Professional Development
  • SIOP
    • SIOP Professional Development
    • SIOP Components and Features
    • SIOP Lesson Preparation >
      • SIOP Feature 1 Write content objectives clearly for students
      • SIOP Feature 2 Write language objectives clearly for students
      • SIOP Feature 4 Identify Supplementary Materials to Use
      • SIOP Feature 6 Plan meaningful activities that integrate lesson concepts with language practice
    • SIOP Building Background >
      • SIOP Feature 7 Explicitly link concepts to students backgrounds and experiences
      • SIOP Feature 8 Explicitly link past learning to new concepts
      • SIOP Feature 9 Emphasize key vocabulary for students
    • SIOP Comprehensible Input >
      • SIOP Feature 10 Use Appropriate Speech for Students Proficiency Level
      • SIOP Feature 11 Explain Academic Tasks Clearly
      • SIOP Feature 12 Use a variety of techniques to make concepts clear
    • SIOP Strategies >
      • SIOP Feature 13 Provide ample opportunities for students to use strategies
      • SIOP Feature 14 Use scaffolding techniques consistently throughout lesson
    • SIOP Interaction >
      • SIOP Feature 16 Provide frequent opportunities for interaction and discussion
      • SIOP Feature 17 Use Group Configurations that support language and content objectives
      • SIOP Feature 18 Provide sufficient wait time
    • SIOP Practice and Application >
      • SIOP Feature 20 Provide hands-on materials and/or manipulatives for students to practice using new content knowledge
      • SIOP Feature 21 Provide activities for students to apply content and language
      • SIOP Feature 22 Provide activities that integrate all language skills >
        • Four Domains of Language Speaking
        • Four Domains of Language Listening
        • Four Domains of Language Writing
        • Four Domains of Language Reading
    • SIOP Lesson Delivery >
      • SIOP Feature 25 Engage Students 90-100% of the Time
      • SIOP Feature 26 Pace the Lesson Appropriately to the Students Ability Level
    • SIOP Review and Evaluation >
      • SIOP Feature 27 ​Give a comprehensive review of key vocabulary
      • SIOP Feature 29 Provide feedback to students regularly on their output
  • Other Programs
    • Teacher Training for TESOL Programs
    • Professional Development for Higher Education >
      • SIOP for College Faculty
    • Multicultural Education Professional Development >
      • Intercultural Competence Training Programs
      • The Culture of US Academia
    • NM TESOL Endorsement >
      • Getting Your TESOL Endorsement
    • International Schools Professional Development
  • CONTACT
  • More...
    • Setting Students up for Success Tour
    • Resources >
      • TESOL Trainers K12 Resources
    • About TESOL Trainers
    • RSS Feed and Forum
    • Careers with TESOL Trainers
  • Reviews of TESOL Trainers

SIOP Feature #9:  Emphasize key vocabulary for students.

​Part of the second component of SIOP, Building Background, is working with vocabulary.  Calling attention to the lesson’s key terminology is important for not just English learners but for all students who struggle with academic vocabulary. Explicitly working with vocabulary at the beginning of a lesson is an effective way of getting students to focus on language as well as content during the lesson.

TESOL Trainers SIOP PD

SIOP Feature #9:  Emphasize Key Vocabulary for Students

TESOL Trainers K12 Professional Development
 Beginning the lesson by highlighting key terms that students need to know sets the tone for the class and helps students focus their attention on vocabulary.  There are a number of ways that teachers can help students interact with key aspects of language from the start of the lesson.  Teachers need to introduce students to four aspects of vocabulary in order to lead them towards ownership.  The four components of vocabulary are:
  • Form = what the word looks like
  • Usage = how the word is used
  • Meaning = what the word means
  • Pronunciation = how the word sounds
Of these four aspects of vocabulary, most teachers spend the majority of their time on form (think spelling tests) and meaning (think definitions).  Little time is spent on usage and pronunciation.  The latter are critical to building confidence and competence, especially for English learners.

TESOL Trainers' approach to vocabulary acquisition will transform the way your teachers and students work with vocabulary.

Why should we emphasize key vocabulary for students?

TESOL Trainers John Kongsvik SIOP PD
Practicing the language of math: What's the product of ?
​There are four benefits to working with key vocabulary at the start of a lesson.  
  1. First, it previews the language that is important to understanding the content of the lesson, grounding the students.  
  2. Secondly, it helps students recognize and interact with the vocabulary during the lesson.
  3. Thirdly, it encourages students to continue to build their lexicons by showing what they should know.
  4. Lastly, teachers who spend time emphasizing vocabulary also give students time to practice the vocabulary.  This is key!

TESOL Trainers Vocabulary PD

TESOL Trainers provides one day and multiple day professional development on vocabulary acquisition.  We offer traditional professional development and remote teacher training workshops.  Here are some highlights:
  • Teachers understand the four aspects of vocabulary:  Form, Usage, Meaning, Pronuncation.
  • Teachers develop 10 strategies for getting student to move from renting to owning vocabulary.
  • Teachers practice strategies to help students pronounce language more confidently and competently.
  • Teachers experience model lessons in which vocabulary is taught in the context of the class, highlighting key strategies.
  • Teachers create lessons and plans for integrating the content of the PD in their contexts.

TESOL Trainers Quick Links

  • Download TESOL Trainers SIOP Information Packet
  • Contact John Kongsvik for more information
Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Written by Dr. John Kongsvik - TESOL Trainers
Designed by: Ciego Productions