It's important for English Language Learners to understand basic academic vocabulary. They must recognize the exact meaning of writing instructions and test prompts to know what they're expected to do.
(As Vocabulary.com points out, quoting Jim Burke, “You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the directions."
Burke’s A list helped guide my choice of the most important words to teach explicitly.)
Understanding basic academic vocabulary will also help students' reading comprehension and class participation.
The lessons in this packet show the ways about 30 important verbs (and related nouns and adjectives, as well as a few lone nouns or adjectives) can be used.
The words appear first in short texts about the scientific method and essay writing.
Then students practice them several times. They read example essays and complete task cards and a crossword. That lets students see them in different contexts and start to use them.
You will need Adobe or another pdf reader to download this pdfs. If you do not have Adobe Reader you can download it, free, here.
Duration: about a week and a half (or more if you want students to write more than one essay. (There are links to some fantastic lessons for helping English learners learn to write persuasive essays.)
These lessons can help ELLs ease into essay writing. They provide an explanation of English essay structure and several examples. Students also practice transition words and proofreading before they need to write much.
Some of the Common Core standards addressed: CCSS. W8, 2 & 2c., 8.5, 9-10.2c & 5; L.8.4a, & L.9-10.4a.
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Download it now for $12.50.
If you don't need the task card practice, see Basic Essay Vocabulary (for Classrooms) on the English Essay Writing Practice page, $8.00. It includes the lessons that demonstrate the vocabulary but doesn't give all the word forms and gap-fill practice.
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