Too often, teachers will discuss the students' growth and the expected progress using academic jargon. This academic jargon, or terminology, is confusing and typically not helpful. It is my goal to help break down these barriers by using resources to explain the terminology in parent-friendly, and even student-friendly terms!
- Please contact me if there is a word you would like me to define.
English Language Arts - ELA terms
- ZPD - zone of proximal development
- This is a term to describe the level of books that is in that "just right" zone for the student to grow.
- The numbers represent a level for books, which can be found for many books here.
- Vocabulary Tiers / Content Vocabulary / Academic Vocabulary
- Three types of vocabulary terms. More information here.
- Tier 1 - everyday words, words that have a clear and easy description. Example: crimson is a shade of red.
- Tier 2 - academic words, words that may be used in many different areas. Example: combine may be used in language arts, science, math, and art content areas.
- Tier 3 - content words, these words are specific to the content area. Example: Solar System is a science term.
- Reading Levels
- The grade level equivalent for text which the student can read with varying levels of errors, described below. The reading level should be determined by reading multiple texts and analyzing errors and speed of reading.
- Independent
- The student should be making 1-2 errors per 100 words; able to read the text by him/herself. This builds confidence in reading and does not confuse the student.
- Instructional
- The student should only work on Instructional level text with help from an adult. The student may be making a few errors, typically on new vocabulary words, which the adult can read for the student. The student should be learning a few words from the text.
- Frustrational
- The student is making too many errors, or is reading too slowly. The errors and speed will impact their comprehension of the text. This level will make the student frustrated and can impact their confidence or interest in reading.
- Spelling Stages
- The stages through which a student develops spelling skills. This is a good resource describing the stages of development using images to help describe.
Mathematics Terms
- Place-Value
- Comparing Numbers
- Greater Than
- Less Than
- Number Period
- Operations
- Factorization
- Digit