SESSION 3  |  Grades K-12 / ELL  |  Handout

Master vocabulary with Marzano’s six steps

Add a tech twist to Marzano six.

Step 1: Explain the word’s meaning

Provide kid-friendly examples.

Students need to hear an informal definition of a term presented in kid-friendly language. Offer examples that relate to students’ background knowledge. Brainstorm additional kid-friendly examples using the results of students’ reading interest inventories.

Interest inventories for your readers
K-2 Version | 3-5 Version | 6-12 Version

Step 2: Restate the word’s meaning

Layer initial understanding.

After the teacher introduces and explains the term to students in a variety of ways, the students will then restate the meaning in their own words.

Frayer Template | MarzanoTemplate | Picture Template |
W.I.D.E. Vocabulary | Buchko Template | Digital Template

Picture frame | Jamboard template | Perspective example

Step 3: Show the word’s meaning

Draw a visual representation.

Teach students five ways to draw or depict the meaning of a term over multiple lessons or days.

Template

Dramatize – 1-Box Template

Associate the word with a visual.

Review with action-packed strategies.

Step 4: Develop a deeper understanding

Create lists of related words or descriptions.

Distinguish between key terms & their synonyms.

Step 5: Refine understanding with peer interaction

Complete an Information Pyramid.

Students customize their understandings by completing an Information Pyramid with no one right answer.

Generate a Bio-Poem.

Students think deeply about how a word would think, feel, or behave as if it were a person.

Step 6: Play with words to cement understanding

Play Cubing.

Review several terms in a small-group activity..

Play Cubing as a whole class using virtual dice.