This article describes the processes of making inferences and using context clues to define unknown words. Links to web sites and articles provide background knowledge and instruction for teachers and students.

On this site from Aussie School House Teachers on the Web, an Australian K-6 teacher defines and illustrates more than 500 mathematical terms. It is a wonderful dictionary featuring clear and often interactive graphics, great colors, and lots of examples. It has been recently updated adding more terms, charts, and an app.

Printable, fifty-five page PDF file of a staff development manual containing strategies for teaching reading. Includes chapters on vocabulary, main ideas and supporting details, author's purpose, chronological order, plot and conflict resolution, cause and effect/ fact and opinion, compare and contrast, and organizing information. It is provided by a site designed to help prepare students for the fourth grade FCAT standardized reading test in Florida.

In this lesson designed to enhance literacy skills, students learn that transitional fossils provide scientists with evidence to establish how major animal groups are related to one another.

Students participate in a JiTT activity to read the front pages of two target language newspapers and to report the content to their classmates in the target language. When this exercise is done on a regular basis, it can result in increasing vocabulary and speech fluency.

This interactive site allows students to describe their local weather using various weather related graphics. Students summarize the local conditions by typing a brief description using a list of weather related vocabulary words.

This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that struck down state bans on interracial marriage. Students learn about the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, and its use in court cases to challenge a range of discriminatory laws. LESSON OBJECTIVES: Describe the citizenship rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment *Identify the main arguments put forth in the case *Describe the rationale behind the Supreme Court's decision *Distinguish between jus sanguinis from jus soli *Describe how citizenship law was influenced by this case *Identify the responsibilities listed in the U.S. Naturalization Oath of Allegiance

This screencast lesson focuses on how to use surrounding sentences to determine word meaning when reading literature. It suggests looking at adjoining sentences, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. She uses two examples from "Wuthering Heights" to demonstrate how it works. [3:41] L.9-10.4a Context/Meaning

A screencast lesson explaining how to use word roots to determine the meaning of unknown vocabulary. [4:38]

In this lesson designed to enhance literacy skills, students examine our growing waste problem and learn about strategies we can use to lessen the strain on our landfills and Earth's natural resources: reduce, reuse, recycle.

A linear equation is an equation whose graph is a line. Watch this video for an in-depth explanation and examples of both linear and non-linear equations. [5:48]

Mean is the same thing as average when referring to a set of data. Watch this tutorial for an explanation and example. [4:05]

This lesson explains how to remember vocabulary by asking questions. This tutorial lesson shares a short screencast with the lesson's content. [4:37]

This lesson explains how to remember vocabulary by finding similar words. This tutorial lesson shares a short screencast with the lesson's content. [3:44]

A fantastic reading skills site emphasizing vocabulary activities. This site contains 54 individual vocabulary activities to click on, and provides teaching tips as well. It is still in the building phase, and more activities, tips, and information are coming!

This article explains how hands-on science activity can support vocabulary development and links to two books and six web sites that provide more information.