Context Clues: Figure Out the Word

Seven sentences with an unfamiliar word; the student uses the context clues to choose what it means.

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The puppy was so timid that it hid behind the couch whenever a visitor came in. What does timid mean?

This pass0 correct · 0 cued · 0 incorrect · 0/7
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Session summary (SOAP)

Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.

Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.

How to run it

Read the sentence aloud, then ask the student to find the words that help before looking at the choices. After choosing, ask them to say which clue they used: an example, a result, a contrast or a definition. Then cover the choices for the next item and ask for a meaning in their own words first.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

  1. Step 1IndependentPresent the item and wait 5 seconds of quiet before helping.Log as correct
  2. Step 2HintGive a clue about the word's category, what it does, or where you find it.Log as cued
  3. Step 3Two choicesOffer two answers, the right one not always second.Log as cued
  4. Step 4ModelGive the answer in a sentence; the student says it back and uses it once more.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Use fewer items and start with the ones the student already knows.

Harder

Ask for the word in a sentence of the student's own, or a second example from the same group.

Matching IEP goal

Given vocabulary cards, Student will name, sort or define target words in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect cue.

Send it home through the parent portal →

About this activity

Seven sentences, each with a word a middle school student may not know yet: timid, famished, ambiguous, reticent, fragile, elated and concise. The rest of the sentence holds the clue, such as a puppy hiding behind the couch or a hiker eating three sandwiches, and the student picks the meaning from three choices. The point is the strategy, using the words around a word, more than the seven words themselves.

What to listen for

Notice whether the student goes straight to the choices or reads the sentence for clues. A student who picks very tired for famished may be using the hike but missing the three sandwiches, so they are using part of the context. Listen for whether they can name the clue type.

Carrying it home

When your child meets a new word in a book or show, ask what they think it means and what made them think so before looking it up. Then check together. The habit of guessing from context first is what this board builds.

What's in this activity

  • The puppy was so timid that it hid behind the couch whenever a visitor came in. What does timid mean?
    • shy and easily scared
    • loud and excited
    • very hungry
  • After the long hike Jay was famished and ate three sandwiches. What does famished mean?
    • very tired
    • very hungry
    • very angry
  • The instructions were so ambiguous that half the class did the wrong page. What does ambiguous mean?
    • short
    • funny
    • unclear
  • Rosa is reticent and rarely shares her opinions in class. What does reticent mean?
    • quiet and reserved
    • rude
    • forgetful
  • The old bridge was so fragile that only one person could cross at a time. What does fragile mean?
    • very long
    • easily broken
    • brand new
  • Our team was elated when we won. We jumped and cheered for an hour. What does elated mean?
    • nervous
    • bored
    • extremely happy
  • The teacher gave a concise answer. It was only one sentence long. What does concise mean?
    • short and clear
    • confusing
    • rude

Questions

Who is this for?
Students in grades 6 through 8 working on vocabulary strategies, context clues and reading comprehension.
Should the student memorise these words?
They can, but the strategy matters more. The same clue-finding works on any unfamiliar word in any class.
Is it free?
Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

Use this board with your caseload

With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.

Track progress free

Free for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.