Why Vocabulary Triage is Essential
In any text, words are not created equal. The Three-Tier Framework helps educators prioritize high-leverage vocabulary (Tier 2) to maximize instructional time and accelerate language acquisition for English Learners.
Text Composition
A typical text is dominated by Tier 1 words, but the small slice of Tier 2 words is where the learning magic happens.
Instructional ROI
Tier 2 words offer the highest return on investment, balancing textual frequency with cross-curricular utility.
The 3-Step Decision Tree
Follow this simple process to classify a candidate word and determine its instructional priority.
e.g., "analyze"
Is it a common word most students know?
Basic vocabulary. No pre-teaching needed.
Is it a low-frequency, domain-specific word?
Teach as needed.
Pre-teach this!
e.g., "analyze"
Is it a common word most students know?
Basic vocabulary. No pre-teaching needed.
Is it a low-frequency, domain-specific word?
Specialized term. Teach as needed.
High-leverage. Pre-teach!
Tiered Strategy Matrix
Enter example words to generate AI-powered teaching strategies and analogies for each vocabulary tier.