Students will improve their vocabulary and learn to master vocabulary strategies with this research-based program. Generative Vocabulary (based on Greek and Latin roots), General Academic Vocabulary (words in written text), and Domain-Specific Vocabulary (specific to content areas such as science, social studies, math, and language arts) are the three types of vocabulary highlighted in this resource. The emphasis is on Greek and Latin roots, which is taught in alternating lessons with Academic or Domain-Specific lessons. Each volume contains 600 targeted words that are taught and reviewed over the course of a year. A Teacher Edition and Student Book are included in the bundle.
The Teacher Edition is designed to be used in a classroom setting and contains many useful notes to the teacher to get the most out of the curriculum, lesson plan options, and teaching instruction for every lesson. Lesson plans give teachers a 3- or 5-day pacing plan administered in 15 minutes a day. If students complete 2 lessons per week, they will learn 20 words every week. Or, if this seems too much, teachers may pick and choose which words to incorporate throughout the year. The Teacher Guide references a Student and Teacher DVD Rom with printable resources. The publisher no longer offers the DVDs. While the DVDs are a nice "add-on" for activities, there are plenty of activities in the Teacher and Student books to facilitate learning.
The non-consumable Student Book has 60 lessons with new vocabulary words in each lesson. Students learn to recognize roots, learn vocabulary strategies by using context clues to determine meanings of words, and learn vocabulary in specific subject-areas. Students keep a separate notebook to record word meanings, write sentences, and journal other activities. A glossary is included in the back of the student book for easy access to definitions. There is enough instruction in the student book to be done without the teacher guide; however, you would not have access to worksheets, assessments, games, and other extras.