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==Essential Question: How can a focus on essential vocabulary deepen students' understanding of content, increase their ability to make cross-curricular connections, and improve their academic achievement?== What is essential vocabulary? Why essential vocabulary? What is the essential vocabulary for my content area? How do I use the essential vocabulary in my subject area?


 * The Importance of Background Knowledge**
 * 1)   Robert Marzano, whose research is the foundation for the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, challenges educators to define the vocabulary ESSENTIAL for academic success. In his research on building academic background knowledge, he argues that students in schools and districts who have defined lists of essential vocabulary are more likely to experience academic success.
 * 2)   We see this as a way of promoting professional conversations about what is really important in our courses. If we can develop consensus about the essential vocabulary in our courses and have means of sharing these lists, our students will certainly benefit.
 * 3)   The kind of list we’re talking about is not necessarily lengthy – essential vocabulary lists should not be every term in the textbook! Go into our Algebra and Geometry classrooms and you’ll see posters with lists of terms that teachers developed by scanning the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. These lists are helpful for introducing and reinforcing essential concepts to students. Our goal is to have similar lists for our content areas and courses from grades 6-12.

December 8 Early Release Session Effective Vocabulary Instruction AHS PD Worksite October 8 Professional Development Session Process
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