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Marilee  Sprenger
Onsite and Online Professional Development

 The 25 Essential Words Your Students Must Know for the State Standards, Assessments, and for College and Career

Researchers estimate 85% of achievement test scores are based on the vocabulary of the standards. Students from poverty, ELL students, and other at-risk students are particularly in need of learning these words in ways that meet their specific learning needs.
Below are the high frequency words of the State Standards and State Assessments divided into three lists. It is suggested that you teach these word lists in order, although there will certainly be overlap in some situations.



The Essential 25

List One

compare

contrast

demonstrate

describe

details

determine

distinguish

explain

point of view

support
​
trace

List Two
​

develop

evidence

infer

interpret

main idea

structure

summarize

paraphrase

theme


                                                       

List Three

analyze

cite

evaluate

persuade
​

relevant

                                                                       
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