Virginia SOL 10.RV.1.B
The Standard
Use context and sentence structure to clarify the literal and figurative meanings of words and phrases.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Vocabulary Development and Word Analysis
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use nearby details, grammar, and a word’s role in a sentence to determine its meaning. They decide whether a phrase is literal or figurative and explain the evidence.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given an unfamiliar word or phrase, students propose a meaning that fits both the passage and the sentence pattern. They cite specific clues and accurately explain figurative language.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often choose the first dictionary definition without checking whether it fits the sentence. They may read idioms and metaphors literally or ignore punctuation, contrast words, and parts of speech.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Read, “After three rejected applications, Maya’s volunteer work opened a door to a paid internship.” Explain the phrase and cite two supporting clues.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence strips with bold phrases; students sort them into literal and figurative groups, then annotate the clues that decided each placement.
Ask students to compare two meanings of “cold” in different sentences and write which nearby words make each meaning clear.
Play a context clue relay: teams infer a highlighted word, label its part of speech, and cite one clue before passing.
Project three headlines or ads with figurative phrases, then have students explain each phrase and how it shapes the message.
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Printable 10.RV.1.B Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 12.RV.1.B
Use context and sentence structure to clarify the meanings of words and phrases.
- 6.RV.1.B
Use context and sentence structure to determine multiple meanings of words and clarify the meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases.
- 9.RV.1.B
The 9th Grade version of this standard.
- 11.RV.1.B
Use context and sentence structure to clarify the meanings of words and phrases.
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