1.3.B
The Standard
use illustrations and texts the student is able to read or hear to learn or clarify word meanings
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use pictures and nearby words to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. They explain the meaning and use the word when speaking or writing.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student gives a sensible meaning for an unfamiliar word and points to a picture or text clue that supports it. The student then uses the word correctly in a new sentence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may guess from the picture without checking the sentence. They may copy nearby words instead of explaining the meaning. They may understand a word when listening but use it incorrectly in their own sentence.
How to Assess It
- Show a picture of a huge elephant and read, “The enormous elephant could barely fit through the gate.” Ask, “What does enormous mean, and what clue helped you?”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a picture book, sticky notes, and crayons to mark one unknown word and draw the picture clue that explains it.
After a read-aloud, ask, “What do you think scurried means, and which words or picture details support your idea?”
Play Clue Match: students pair word cards with picture cards, then read a sentence aloud to confirm or change each match.
Walk around school to read labels such as cafeteria and library, using nearby symbols and objects to explain each word.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- K.3.B
use illustrations and texts the student is able to read or hear to learn or clarify word meanings; and
- 2.3.A
use print or digital resources to determine meaning and pronunciation of unknown words;
- 4.3.A
use print or digital resources to determine meaning, syllabication, and pronunciation;
- K.9.D
discuss with adult assistance how the author uses words that help the reader visualize; and
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.