1. Pasco School District Common Grade-Level Vocabulary Project Pasco School District Strategic Plan Goal 1 – Teaching & Learning June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

2. Philosophy June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development Research has shown that the instruction of common academic grade level vocabulary provides a gateway for students to access further learning and improve achievement, regardless of language or socio-economic background.

3. Philosophy June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development Common grade level vocabulary provides opportunities for shared instructional strategies that increase performance outcomes and ensures consistent, district wide instruction.

4. Philosophy June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development To this end, the Pasco School District has established, published, and adopted common grade level vocabulary in each content area to be directly taught and assessed.

5. Rational Satisfies the District Strategic Plan Goal One: “Create a personalized learning environment where students achieve rigorous standards through quality instruction. By 2010 establish and publish grade level learning targets and vocabulary for each content area” (1.4.4). June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

6. Rational Addresses the achievement gap among students whose backgrounds are vastly different as the achievement of ELL and mid to low SES students is impacted by lack of vocabulary. (Mayo & Boyd) June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

7. Rational Acquiring important academic vocabulary is critical to understanding any subject. (Marzano) June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

8. Rational Tackles achievement issues related to student mobility. (Marzano & Pickering) June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

9. Rational “…the strongest action a teacher can take to insure students have the academic background knowledge they need to understand the content they will encounter in school.” (Marzano & Pickering) June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

10. Our Process Collaborate with content and grade level staff district wide Consult with State Grade Level Expectations and Standards Select 30 words per content, per grade level which are essential for further learning and understanding June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development

11. Next Steps – Publish on District Website Publish vocabulary lists by content and by grade level Publish research based strategies for vocabulary instruction Include in Curriculum Documents June 10, 2015 Pasco School District ~ Curriculum and Professional Development