Understanding and using appropriate vocabulary enables our students to access their learning in every subject and beyond the classroom.

We encourage students to use a range of strategies to decode and comprehend individual words. We support students as they break down and clarify vocabulary, consider affixes (prefixes and suffixes), explore word families, the context of a word and make connections between words and subjects.

We use the Frayer Model to help summarise a definition, practise a new word in a sentence and explore synonyms (words that mean the same), antonyms (opposites) or non-examples.

We explicitly teach Tier 3 (subject specific) words and all subjects address Tier 2 (common complex) words. We ask students to say the word aloud and make connections between words and images to help their vocabulary retrieval.

Students are encouraged to record vocabulary on Word Walls to help them use, transfer and retrieve their learning. Once students have encountered a new word, we encourage them to use it as they speak and write.