Scott Foresman Reading Street

Vocabulary Strategy

Use context clues to determine the meaning
of words that have synonyms.

INTRODUCE

Discuss the strategy for context clues using the steps on p. 148.

TEACH

Have students read "Pass It Down," paying attention to how vocabulary is used.
Model using context clues to determine the meaning of paces.

MODEL I read that Emily "started a few paces, or steps, behind the beat." It looks like steps is being given as a synonym for paces. Paces must mean the same thing as steps.

Whole Group Discuss the Question of the Day. Then use pp. 148–151.

Group Time
Differentiated Instruction

Suki’s Kimono. See
pp. 146f–146g for the small
group lesson plan.

Reading

Language Arts
Use pp. 169e–169h and
169k–169m.

Whole Group Use pp. 169a and 169i.

Grouping Options

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

Have students determine the meanings of the remaining words and explain the synonyms and context clues they used.
Point out that not all texts have synonyms for unfamiliar words. Students may have to use the glossary or a dictionary to find the exact meaning of some words.
Have students review their
word rating charts and revise
their usage and definitions
of vocabulary words.
Have students complete Practice Book 3.2, p. 55.

WRITE Writing should include

vocabulary words that tell a story about someone in the student's family.

then… use Tested Vocabulary Cards.

If… students need more practice with the selection vocabulary,

Context Clues

Practice Book 3.2 p. 55

with | without Answers

for Synonyms

Vocabulary Strategy

Emily Douglas is named
after her grandmother, Emily
Kelly. Every summer Emily
Kelly’s village in Ireland held
a dance festival and contest.
Emily K. was 8 the first time
she entered the contest. She
had practiced for weeks, but
she was very nervous and
started to worry. One shoe
felt comfortably snug while
the other felt too tight. When
the fiddles began playing, her
heart was thumping so loudly
that she couldn’t hear the
rhythm. So she started a few
paces, or steps, behind the
beat. That’s the way she did
the entire dance! When she

finished, everyone applauded
and cheered. The judges told
her how graceful she was
and how original her dance
was! She won first prize—a
pale blue cotton handkerchief
embroidered with white
flowers. When Emily K. came
to the United States, the
handkerchief was one of the
few things she brought with
her. Later she gave it to her
granddaughter Emily. The blue
is even lighter now and the
cotton is very thin. But Emily
has kept the handkerchief. It
makes her think about another
young girl named Emily.

handkerchief

cotton

pale

graceful

paces

rhythm

snug

festival

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

Read “Pass It Down.” Look for synonyms to
help you understand the meanings of the
vocabulary words.

2. Do you recognize a word that might be
a synonym?

1. Look at the words and sentences near the
unknown word. The author may have used
a synonym.

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

Context Clues Sometimes when you are reading,
you might see a word you don’t know. The
author may have used a synonym that will give
you a clue. A synonym is a word that has the
same or almost the same meaning as another
word. For example, difficult is a synonym for
hard. Look for a word that might be a synonym.
The word you know can help you understand
the meaning of the word you don’t know.

Do you know a story about someone in your family? Write it down
or make one up. Use words from the Words to Know list if you can.



	Close
	Access Content Use ELL Poster 21 to preteach vocabulary. Choose from the following to meet language proficiency levels. Beginning Point out clues on p. 149 that help you understand that a rhythm has something to do with music. Intermediate After reading, students can create a two-column chart with vocabulary words on the left and a synonym for the word on the right. Advanced Teach the lesson on pp. 148–149. Students can report on the names of different festivals they know about in their home languages. Resources for home-language words may include parents, bilingual staff members, bilingual dictionaries, or online translation sources. Context Clues Have students work in pairs to follow the steps on p. 148. Encourage them to list synonyms as context clues for an unknown word and then decide together the best meaning for it.