CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.6

ELAGrades 9–10Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

The Standard

Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do

Students learn and accurately use academic words and terms tied to specific subjects. They independently use context, dictionaries, glossaries, and other references when a word affects meaning or expression.

What Mastery Looks Like

Students determine the meaning of unfamiliar academic or subject terms using context and reliable references. They use those terms accurately in writing and discussion, with the correct form and tone.

Common Misconceptions

Students may treat near-synonyms as interchangeable, even when tone or context differs. They may guess from context without checking a reference. They may also misuse word forms, such as writing analyze where analysis is needed.

How to Assess It

Give students a short paragraph with one unfamiliar bolded word. Ask them to infer its meaning, cite a context clue, verify it, and use it in a new sentence.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Give pairs vocabulary cards to sort by subject, meaning, and level of formality, then have them explain two choices.

  2. Ask students to write which word from the week best clarifies a class text and explain why it fits better than a synonym.

  3. Play vocabulary Taboo, requiring students to define each target term without using the listed related words.

  4. Bring in a job posting and have students identify, research, and use five unfamiliar workplace terms in a mock application response.

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Printable L.9-10.6 Worksheet

Preview of the CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.6 printable worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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Learning progression

Where This Standard Sits

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