Using context clues to determine word meaning helps students build vocabulary. Vocabulary knowledge is one of the biggest indicators to reading success. How do we as educators support vocabulary growth? One of the best ways to build vocabulary is through literature that provides exemplars and carefully constructed writing that includes context clues.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is the perfect book with rich vocabulary. It contains real life connections and describes the perfect barbershop cut. Students will be able to visualize inferred meaning.
How Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut models context clues
If you are not familiar with this book, run to the library and get your sticky notes and pencil ready! Take time to mark your teaching points. This is especially important with context clues.
First, I’ll share a few of my observations. I thoroughly loved the amazing realistic photos. The illustrations really make you feel as though you are right there in the shop.
In addition to Barnes’ word choice, your students of color will also connect to the barber’s artistic skills as he masterfully creates designs along the sides of the boy’s head. My students loved talking about some of the designs they’d had with their cuts. It was fun listening to them make connections in this way.
Most importantly, through Barnes’ descriptions, your students will be built up as royalty because of his choice of words. Every single student should be built up as royalty. When you find a book that does this, you must have it in your library.
explaining how to use Context Clues:
When we use mentor texts to teach a skill, the first step is to find the teaching points in the book. I take time to mark these points with sticky notes. This helps me remember to stop and discuss the teaching points in the context of the skill. With this book, one thing I love is the cadence as you read it. It naturally has pausing points. The page’s illustrations and focus almost seems to target a specific word or theme.
how Text Examples help students with context clues
Take the word intellectual as one example. In the book, the author describes it as “smashing the geography exam” and “rearranging the honor roll”. There is also the “reference to the brain”.
model with print and digital:
As you share the book, you can have your students record their thoughts using this organizer. I am sharing one in color too in case you’d want to project it as you read.
More examples of context clues:
Another example I’ll share is this one for the word manufacture. You can connect the words presidential, CEO, and tech company. There are many examples in the book like these.
Modeling Vocabulary within the book:
As a group, you can explore the word more deeply by using these teaching posters in a jigsaw format. Divide the kids into five teams, and each team performs one of the following tasks:
- Find the quote in the reading and record it.
- Come up with a kid-friendly definition.
- Provide examples of things that are manufactured.
- Give a list of synonyms for the word (use a thesaurus if needed).
- Share antonyms for the word.
Of course, the organizers and vocabulary posters can be used with any book. They can be printed or projected. Note-If you want to use the colored version of the organizer, you should be able to screenshot the page and insert it into a blank Google Slide. Then, add text boxes for your students to respond.
Read Aloud Video:
If you don’t have a copy of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, then check out this Youtube link for use with your lesson.
Subscribe to get your vocabulary charts:
Interested in this resource? You can download it by clicking the image below.
Related posts on context clues and vocabulary:
Looking for other ways to weave vocabulary instruction into your lessons? Check out the other posts on my blog:
grab the new unit in my tpt store:
Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut is a fabulous book, and I highly recommend you give it a try. Your students will thoroughly enjoy it. Plus, you’ll be able to share a very useful skill as you read.
Thank you so much, Carla. I can't wait to read this book.
I cannot wait to use this book and resource with my third and fourth grade groups! Thanks so much!
~Jennifer
Awesome! I had never heard of this book and can't wait to add it to my collection. Thank you for sharing!