1. Pasco School District Common Grade-Level Vocabulary Project
Pasco School District Strategic Plan
Goal 1 – Teaching & Learning
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

2. Philosophy
Research has shown that the instruction of common academic grade level vocabulary provides a gateway for students to access further learning and improve achievement, regardless of language or socio-economic background.
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

3. Philosophy
Common grade level vocabulary provides opportunities for shared instructional strategies that increase performance outcomes and ensures consistent, district wide instruction.
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

4. Philosophy
To this end, the Pasco School District has established, published, and adopted common grade level vocabulary in each content area to be directly taught and assessed.
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

5. Rational
Satisfies the District Strategic Plan Goal One: “Create a personalized learning environment where students achieve rigorous standards through quality instruction. By 2010 establish and publish grade level learning targets and vocabulary for each content area” (1.4.4).
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

6. Rational
Addresses the achievement gap among students whose backgrounds are vastly different as the achievement of ELL and mid to low SES students is impacted by lack of vocabulary (Mayo & Boyd)
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

7. Rational
Acquiring important academic vocabulary is critical to understanding any subject (Marzano)
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

8. Rational
Tackles achievement issues related to student mobility (Marzano & Pickering)
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

9. Rational
“The strongest action a teacher can take to insure students have the academic background knowledge they need to understand the content they will encounter in school” (Marzano & Pickering)
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

10. Our Process
Collaborate with content and grade level staff district wide
Consult with State Grade Level Expectations
Select 30 words per content, per grade level which are essential for further learning and understanding
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

11. Next Steps – Publish on District Website
Publish vocabulary lists by content and by grade level
Publish research based strategies for vocabulary instruction
Include in Curriculum Documents
August 7, 2018
Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development