Rogue Wave Vocabulary Extension - HMH Collections

As ELA teachers we’re often told to “teach vocabulary in context.” Unfortunately, textbooks usually have a limited number of word-building questions or activities, and it can be difficult to fit in the kind of repeated practice that leads to retention of new vocabulary. Here, I’ve crafted a ready-to-print (or project) vocabulary unit for this selection in the HMH Collections textbook.

This five-page unit targets 12 words from the short story “Rogue Wave” for repeated practice to deepen understanding. This vocabulary extension includes words not already defined in the text itself and is designed for use as a daily warm-up or augmentation activity for fast-finishers. It has five activity pages (plus an answer key) including: Word List with student friendly definitions, Words in Context that focuses on a specific type of context clue, Word Play that encourages students to interact with words in a puzzle-style format, Word Study focusing on grammar or word analysis, and Word Application where students are challenged to demonstrate understanding of the new vocabulary.

In designing this resource, I tried to incorporate many “best practices” for word acquisition, including repeated encounters with the word in different contexts and a progressive sequence of instruction for context clues and grammar (this will be most notable if you purchase multiple units or bundles).

If you like this resource, be sure to check out similar units for other passages in the Collections.