Instruction

The Vocabulary module targets the most common and essential English words, covering 80% of typical text, and offers self-paced instruction with interactive lessons across eight proficiency levels. Students engage in game-like activities and vocabulary practice within text and stories. The program’s vocabulary is based on Hiebert’s Word Zones™ corpus, developed from frequent word counts in the Educators Word Frequency Guide. This corpus organizes words into four frequency zones suitable for different grade levels, ensuring students learn the meanings of frequently used words through research-based elements.

Shared Book Reading

The Vocabulary module offers individualized, self-paced instruction using a “Shared Book Reading” strategy. 

Shared Reading 1: Story

While students listen to the story, sentences are underlined, and target words are highlighted to help them follow along.  

Shared Reading 2: Definitions Review

Students  learn the meaning of words by:

• Using an illustration to demonstrate understanding of word meaning.
• Hearing a word embedded in the sentence from the story.
• Hearing a student-friendly definition.

Shared Reading 3: Stories with Definitions

Students reread the story. Any sentence may be replayed to help secure the meaning of the highlighted word based on context. Students may also hear any missed word defined with audio and picture clues.

Games

After completing the shared story activities, students receive additional word practice through interactive games.

Lesson Review

The lesson review activity is assigned as a final review and practice of the previously assigned words for that lesson. The student must match the word with the corresponding picture definition.  

Pathing

All students begin with a vocabulary placement test and are assigned to the appropriate level-based test performance. The placement test is given to all students only once and requires students to match a picture definition to the meaning of a target word. Results determine which of the eight levels a student begins. The placement test covers all levels of words (1-8) and takes about 10 minutes to complete. A maximum of 40 words is possible; however, when a student misses two in a row, the program stops the placement test and places the student at that error word level.