1. By Lea Kilgallon

2. Numb3rs
20
Ownership
400
per year
90
Percent
2,000
new words
Patrick Higgins blog

3. Objective
 After demonstrating context clues, students determine
the meaning of selected words in the provided
statements using the context clues guide sheet 100% of
the time.
LA 910.1.6.3
The student will use
context clues to
determine meanings of
unfamiliar words

4. Agenda
1. Brainstorming
2. Group Game
3. Group presentation

5. Inferring
 How to guess at word meaning

6. Context Clues
 A context clue is the information that surrounds a
new word, used to understand its meaning.
 Inferring

7. What is gregarious ?
 “Those who enjoy belonging to clubs, going to
parties, and inviting friends often to their homes for
dinner are gregarious.”

8. What is gregarious ?
 “Those who enjoy belonging to clubs, going to
parties, and inviting friends often to their homes for
dinner are gregarious.”

9. What is gregarious ?
 “Those who enjoy belonging to clubs, going to
parties, and inviting friends often to their homes for
dinner are gregarious.”

10. Context Clues
Description - A topic, idea, person, place, or thing is described by
listing its features, characteristics, or Examples
 Signal Words
For instance
Such as…
To begin with
An example
To illustrate
Characteristics - Look for the topic
word to be repeated

11. What happened?
 Given the paucity of resources, the people were forced
to move on.

12. Cause:
Effect: people forced to
moved on
 Given the paucity of resources, the people were forced
to move on.

13. Context Clues
Cause - is why something happened.
Effect is what happened
(Sometimes the effect is listed first.)
 Signal Words
So, Because, Since, Therefore,
If…then, This led to,
Reason why, As a result,
May be due to, Effect of,
Consequently, For this reason

14.  Ben is fearless, but his brother is timorous.

15. Context Clues
Compare and Contrast Shows how two or
more things are alike and/or how they are
different.
 Signal Words
Same, Similar
Alike, As well as
Not only…but also, Both
Instead of, Either…or, On the
other hand, Different from,
As opposed to

16.  The antediluvian, or ancient, carvings told us
nothing.

17.  The antediluvian, or ancient, carvings told us
nothing.

18. Context Clues
Synonym or Restatement A word or phrase that
means exactly or nearly the same as another word
or phrase
 Signal Words
Likewise, Especially, Or, In that ,
Similarly, In other words,
That is, “A phrase set apart
between commas”

19.  Etymology, which is the study of the origin of
words, finds many teachers taking the bull by its horns
when unraveling the mysteries of vocabulary studies.

20. Context Clues
Explanation or Definition A statement or account
that makes something clear, Communicates a
meaning
 Signal Words
Is, are, has, Means, defined as

21. Group Practice
 You have ______ minutes to finish the exercise
 First minute select
 one moderator – Keep the ball moving
 one reporter – teach to the class
 Then ___ minutes to finish

22. Directions…..
 Find clues to help infer the meaning of the bold word.
Try to guess the meaning of the word.
 Circle the signal word
 Cause and effect – circle cause and effect
 Circle the context clue

23. Context Clues: Summary
Description
Cause and Effect
Compare (antonym) or Contrast
Synonyms or restatement
Explanation or definition

24. - There was a double spectrum in my backyard.
A band of colors seen when white light is broken up according to
wavelength
- The class will cover a wide spectrum of ideas
A broad range of related qualities, ideas, or activities.

25. One Caveat
 - sometimes context can actually lead to a
misunderstanding
After Sarah won the dance contest, Cindy grudgingly said “Every step
she takes is so perfect and graceful.”
Grudgingly – might be confused for admiring
Other than resentment or ill will.
Need Dictionary

26. Increase vocabulary
Reading using Context Clues
•Most vocabulary words are learned from
context.
•The more words you're exposed to, the
better vocabulary you will have.
Practice - Use it

27. Use it so you do not loose it
Make Associations
Gargantuan (very large)
 Sentence (write word)- that involve strong
emotion
The Gargantuan creature was going to rip me apart and eat me!
 Picture (Godzilla)
 Relate to familiar words (gigantic, huge)
Look words up:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
Pronunciation: http://www.howjsay.com/

28. Context practice and ….
English-Zone.Com has two simple practices
http://www.english-zone.com/vocab/vic01.html
http://www.english-zone.com/vocab/vic02.html
This site practice if from introduction to advanced
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_licklider_vocabulary_2/0,
6658,416421-,00.html
This site tests range from sentence to words from a
paragraph
http://cwabacon.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/seyl
er_ab/chapter1/deluxe.html

29. Vocabulary Practice
Number2.com's online test preparation
courses are totally free! By creating an
account you can access a customized course
with practice sessions that dynamically adapt
to each student's ability level
Many practices on this one site for context
vocabulary
http://www.sheppardsoftware.co
m/dynamic_multiple_choiceB2.h
tml
This site is for vocabulary practice with
cards and pronunciation
http://www.sheppardsoftware.co
m/web_games_vocab_sat.htm

30. Apps The artificial intelligence in the Power Vocab
app is used to learn about your vocabulary
skills and habits to then present you with the
word lists and exercises you need to focus
on. iPhone and it is Free
Words, words, words!
The 2000+ words become more
difficult with each passing quiz. Audio
is included to help with pronunciation.
Mix things up with the unscramble
game! Android and it is Free

31. Credits
Clip Art from Microsoft office:
 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/
Images in order of appearance from flickr users
 Phone Box Some rights reserved by ajehals
 phone Some rights reserved by tj scenes
 Phone_book Some rights reserved by How can I recycle this
 phone Some rights reserved by raindog808
 Accident! Some rights reserved by Accretion Disc
 Circle of phones Some rights reserved by csaila
 Know No Phone Some rights reserved by Justin Marty

32. Credits
 Phone in a Cage, Tweeting Some rights reserved by Suzi
Edwards
 Phone Struck by Lightning Some rights reserved by
david.nikonvscanon
 Phone blocks by By NathanReed Some rights reserved by
NathanReed
 182_8691 rainbow phone Some rights reserved by Kate's
Photo Diary
 N70 Flash Lite 2.0 clock Some rights reserved by QiFei
 Street sign in Richmond Some rights reserved by
Mike_fleming
 Caution Tape Some rights reserved by Picture Perfect Pose

33. Credits
 Thisius , L. Text Structure Signal Questions & Signal
Words retrieved from
essdack.org/files/Signal%20Word%20Chart.doc
 Using Context Clues with Text Signals purposely given
to help the reader from clearkschools.net adapted from
Jeff Zwiers book Building Reading Comprehension
Habits in Grades 6 – 12 retrieved from
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23025942/Using-
Context-Clues-With-Text-Signals