Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

using a variety of strategies. ●​ I can use context clues to understand the meaning of a word or phrase. ●​ I can use Greek or Latin affixes and roots to determine the meaning of a word. ●​ I can use reference materials to find the pronunciation, meaning, or part of speech of a word.

Nouns (Know)

Verbs (Do)

●​ Meaning ●​ Unknown words ●​ Multiple-meaning words ●​ Phrases ●​ Strategies ●​ Context ●​ Clue ●​ Greek or Latin affixes ●​ Roots ●​ Reference materials

●​ Determine ●​ Clarify ●​ Use

●​ Choose ●​ Consult ●​ Find

●​ Pronunciation ●​ Part of speech

Sample Question Stems and Prompts for Assessment

Using Context Clues: ●​ "What does the word [word] mean in this sentence? How can you tell based on the context?" ●​ "What clues in the surrounding text help you understand the meaning of [word]?"

Using Affixes and Roots: ●​ "What does the prefix [prefix] in the word [word] mean? How does it help you understand the word?" ●​ "Identify the root of the word [word]. What does it mean, and how does it help you determine the meaning of the entire word?" Consulting Reference Materials: ●​ "Use a dictionary to find the pronunciation of the word [word]. What is its part of speech?" ●​ "Look up the word [word] in a reference material. What is its precise meaning in this context?" ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Sample Formative Assessments

Vocabulary in Context Quiz: ●​ Activity: Students take a quiz where they read sentences or short passages and determine the meaning of underlined words using context clues. They also have sections where they analyze the meaning of words based on given Greek or Latin roots and affixes, and use reference materials to find word definitions.

Last Updated June 2nd, 2026 Secondary ELA, Page 111