Scott Foresman Reading Street

Vocabulary Strategy

Use context clues to determine word meaning of homonyms.

INTRODUCE

Discuss the context clues strategy using the steps on p. 246.

TEACH

Have students read "A Different Treasure Hunt," paying attention to how vocabulary is used.
Model using context clues to determine the meaning of pitcher.

MODEL I know that a pitcher can be a jug that holds water. But the word pitcher on p. 247 is used in reference to baseball. So the word pitcher used like this means "someone who throws the ball to the batter in a baseball game."

Whole Group Discuss the Question of the Day. Then use pp. 246–249.

Group Time
Differentiated Instruction

Me and Uncle Romie.
See pp. 244f–244g for the
small group lesson plan.

Reading

Language Arts
Use pp. 275e–275h and
275k–275m.

Whole Group Use pp. 275a and 275i.

Grouping Options

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

Have students determine the meanings of the remaining words and explain the context clues they used.
Point out that context does not work with every word. Students may have to use the glossary or a dictionary to find the exact meaning of some words.
Have students revise their compare and contrast charts, refining their usage and definitions of the vocabulary words.
Have students complete Practice Book 3.2, p. 95.

WRITE Writing should include

vocabulary words that answer the question of whether or not any baseball players showed up and explain the reasons for the student's answer.

then… use Tested Vocabulary Cards.

If… students need more practice with the selection vocabulary,

Context Clues

Practice Book 3.2 p. 95

with | without Answers

Read “A Different Treasure Hunt.” Look for
words that are homonyms. Use context clues
to figure out their meanings.

Try the meaning in the sentence. Does it
make sense?

Draw a conclusion about another meaning
for the word.

Reread the words and sentences around the
word. Look for clues to the word’s meaning.

Context Clues When you read, you may come
to a familiar word, but it doesn’t make sense in
the sentence. The word could be a homonym.
Homonyms are words that are spelled the same
but have different meanings. For example, saw
means “looked at.” Saw also means “a tool
for cutting.” Use the context—the words and
sentences around the word—to figure out the
correct meaning.

Vocabulary Strategy
for Homonyms

Do you think anyone showed up?

I'm looking for baseball players.
Come to 124 Montgomery Street
June 28, 2:00 p.m.
FREE FOOD!

I thought my life was ruined.
My mother saw my fierce face. She suggested I have a
treasure hunt, but instead
of looking for gold, I should
look for baseball players.
She promised to help by preparing a feast with all
my favorite foods. I made
signs on cardboard and
posted them at the grocery
store, the library, and the
post office. The signs said:

The summer I turned
eight, my family moved from
New York City to North
Carolina. In the city, we
climbed four flights of stairs
to our apartment. The street
was lined with apartment
buildings, and people sat on
their front stoops and listened
to the noise. In North Carolina,
we lived in a house. All the
houses had front porches and
yards. At night it was very dark
and quiet.
In New York City, I was
the best pitcher on the
neighborhood baseball team.
In North Carolina, I couldn’t find
enough kids my age for a team.

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

cardboard

feast

treasure

fierce

ruined

pitcher

stoops

flights

Answer the writer’s question. Give reasons for your answer.
Use as many words from the Words to Know list as you can.



	Close
	Access Content Use ELL Poster 25 to preteach vocabulary. Choose from the following to meet language proficiency levels. Beginning Point out clues in the first paragraph on p. 247 that show that flights is a word for groups of stairs in a building. Intermediate After reading, students can create a two-column chart, using homonyms and their different meanings in each column. Advanced Teach the lesson on pp. 246–247. Students can report on the names of the different parts of buildings 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. 246. Encourage them to list clues for an unknown word and then decide together the best meaning for it.