Scott Foresman Reading Street

Vocabulary Strategy

Use context clues to determine word meaning.

INTRODUCE

Remind students of strategies they can use when they encounter unknown words.

Look for context clues.
Decide whether a word with a similar meaning, a synonym, is a context clue.
Try the synonym to see if it makes sense in the context.

TEACH

Discuss the steps on p. 90 for using synonyms as context clues.
Have students think about lesson vocabulary words in context as they read "Tall Paul."
Model using context clues to determine the meaning of prairie.

MODEL This sentence says Tall Paul could cross a mile of prairie in one step. The sentence before says he lived on the plains. I think the plains and prairie may be the same thing. I know the plains are a flat stretch of land. The synonym makes sense in the context: Tall Paul crossed a mile of the plains in one step.

then… use Tested Vocabulary Cards.

If… students need more practice with the lesson vocabulary,

Context Clues

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

Have students determine the meanings of the remaining words and explain the context clues they used.
Point out that context doesn't always offer enough clues to word meaning. Students may need to look up a word in the glossary or a dictionary for an exact definition.
If students filled out a vocabulary frame (p. 90b), have them fill out another frame with a different vocabulary word.
Have students complete Practice Book p. 35.

WRITE Tales should include several

lesson vocabulary words as well as words that describe great size and strength.

Practice Book p. 35

with | without Answers

Vocabulary Strategy
for Synonyms

Context Clues Sometimes when you are reading,
you see a word you don’t know. The author may
give you a synonym for the word. A synonym
is a word that has almost the same meaning as
another word. Look for a synonym. It can help
you understand the meaning of the word you
don’t know.

Try the strategy.
Then, if you need
more help, use
your glossary or
a dictionary.

shrieked

offended

favor

bargain

riverbed

lassoed

prairie

Tall Paul was a cowboy who
lived on the plains not so long
ago. He was not just any cowboy,
though. He was so long legged he
could cross a mile of prairie in just
one step. And he was so big and
strong he lassoed and caught a
whole herd of cattle with a single
toss of his rope.

The sky would bring a flood of
rain. In return, the sky asked
this favor: “I will help you if you
do me this service. My servant,
Wind, can’t blow the clouds over
that mountain there. I need you
to flatten it a little for me.”

As you read “Tall Paul,” look for synonyms
to help you understand the meanings of the
vocabulary words.

Try the synonym in place of the word in the
sentence. Does it make sense?

If not, look at the sentences around the sentence
with the unknown word. The author may use a
synonym there.

Look at the sentence in which the unknown
word appears. The author may give a synonym
in the same sentence.

Tall Paul said to the mountain,
"Now don’t be offended. I’ll just
take a little off the top.” The
mountain shrieked and screamed,
but the deed was done. Tall
Paul jumped on that mountain
and turned it into a nice little
mesa. In an instant, the rains
began to fall.

Tall Paul felt bad about that so
he struck a bargain with the sky.

Tall Paul had a mighty big
appetite too. He ate a mountain of
flapjacks for breakfast. One time,
out on the range, he got so thirsty
he drank a river. The dry riverbed
just lay there gasping for water.

Write your own tale about Tall Paul. Use some words from
the Words to Know list.



	Close
	Access Content Use ELL Poster 4 to preteach vocabulary. Choose from the following to meet language proficiency levels. Beginning Use the Multilingual Lesson Vocabulary list that begins on p. 272 of the ELL Teaching Guide, as well as other home-language resources, to provide translations of the tested words. Intermediate Ask Spanish-speaking students if they recognize the words favor and offend. These words have Spanish cognates: favor and ofender. Advanced Teach the lesson on pp. 90–91. Have students report on the home-language words for some of the lesson vocabulary words. Resources for home-language words may include parents, bilingual staff members, bilingual dictionaries, or online translation sources. Context Clues Display the sentence: The wind shrieked and whistled through the trees. Have students tell which two words are synonyms.