High school vocabulary words, middle school vocabulary words, how to improve SAT scores

1. How is it possible for one volume to serve students in multiple grades?
Words on each web are rated (subjectively) as to their level of difficulty. Each web offers six learning levels, color- and shape-coded, so that students of varying abilities in a classroom or in the same school can use it at the same time. These levels range from Beginner through Challenging and are designated by color and shape-coded symbols.

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2. What excites students about the Word Web materials?
You know how it is. Just tell a child that he's not old enough or ready to do something, and he's sure to want to do it! I wouldn't admit to consciously using this ploy when I designed Word Web Vocabulary, but I acknowledge ('fess up") that it's an unwritten element in the program. Although students study the web words at their own level of proficiency, they cannot avoid noticing the number of other words that come from the same word stem. Also, each week, students hear classroom discussions about the other words for which they are not "responsible" and quite possibly absorb them.

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3. How can the same materials be used for different grade levels?
As any teacher or parent already knows, it is not easy to peg any lesson to one particular grade or age. It is equally tricky to decide what will or will not be of interest to any one child. I have watched young children become absolutely engrossed with material that some would say was "too old" or "too advanced" for them. I have never found hard and fast rules that can accurately correlate learning to age or grade. Every text of any type is often inappropriate for the grade for which it was designed because children in different settings (private or public schools, large or small, inner city or suburban) vary greatly.

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4. How can I possibly fit another component into my already crowded teaching schedule?
Word Web depends on teachers' using only 15 minutes of class time each day to discuss the various web words, as well as two other words designated for the entire class: the Real World Word and the Wicked Word of the Week. These are words that all students, regardless of grade, can internalize to enhance their general vocabulary. The teacher's manual provides supplemental material, which includes multidimensional lesson plans and teaching tips, along with extra clarification of the students' material.

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5. For which grades are these materials intended?
The vocabulary works easily in elementary through high school (and adult), although this program has actually been used successfully with first graders (who received a lot of support from their teachers). Words on each web are rated as to their level of difficulty. For those in high school, the advanced words, the challenges and material from the teacher's manual (which provides more sophisticated material than is appropriate for the student's volume) are suitable. Furthermore, each chapter (6 lessons) is slightly more advanced than the last one, so by the end of the year there is a greater degree of difficulty. Although students study the web words at their own level of proficiency, they cannot avoid noticing the number of other words that come from the same word stem. Also, they will hear discussions in class of the other words for which they are not responsible. Each week's Real World word and the Wicked Word of The Week provide students at all grade levels with essential vocabulary.

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6. What do you mean in your promotional material about "continuous review"?
Word Web is structured so that students must write sentences for each of the week's words, and in so doing, they must incorporate words from previous lessons into these sentences. They are encouraged to write Super Sentences® in which they use at least three vocabulary words in a sensible sentence. The example sentences presented to students also draw from previous lessons; these words are highlighted so that students recognize them as coming from prior lessons.

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7. How many volumes are there of Word Web Vocabulary?
There are three volumes of Word Web Vocabulary. The differences between the volumes are the word content and the color of the workbooks.Each volume stands on its own, meaning that they are not sequential, nor progressively more difficult. Since each volume is independent of the others, schools that are planning on using Word Web in more than one grade can use Volume I with all grades now, then move to Volume II next year, and so on. It is extra enriching to have all students in a school studying the same words simultaneously. Not only can siblings (as well as teachers!) share ideas with each other, but school assemblies, bulletin boards, newsletters and other school-wide connections can also recognize students' outstanding work.

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8. How can you really interest students in vocabulary study?
In every lesson, Think Links® ask questions of students, most of which will take a bit of research to answer. Teachers / parents / students themselves make the decision as to the number of Think Links each student should answer, a determination that may change as the year progresses. "Think Links" and opportunities to "delve deeper" also provide for additional learning. Super Sentences®, Cool Connections®, Periodical Pearls and Awesome Associations® also increase students' interest and involvement in word study. The Real World Words always capture students' attention and interest.

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9. Is the program totally web-based, or are there printed materials also?
Currently, Word Web Vocabulary exists only as printed (textbook) materials.

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10. Do you have anything that could help tutors in an after-school tutoring program?
Volume I of Word Web Vocabulary would be an excellent answer to your needs. If you were able to fit in one lesson a week, your students would accomplish all your goals in no time. Try our FREE TEACHER’S GUIDE Download. The parents of your students will be very pleased to see their children working with such a worthwhile program.

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11. Did we miss answering any other questions?
If we did not answer a question in your mind, there are probably others wondering about the same subject. To help others and us please submit any and all questions you may have, so we can not only respond to them directly, but also include them in this Frequently Asked Questions section of our web site.