Why Are There So Many Words in Math?: Planning for Content-Area Vocabulary Instruction
This article, published by the National Council of Teachers of English, describes a planning tool for vocabulary instruction called the 5 Cs. It was developed to help teachers consider which words to teach in content-area classes such as mathematics, science, and social studies. The tool supports using a thoughtful process to select words to emphasize so that teachers can design instruction to help young adolescents comprehend content-area texts and develop connections between background knowledge and new concepts.
This brief paper is succinct in describing the background and purpose for the graphic organizer, a planning tool that would be useful to teachers interested in content-specific vocabulary development to support instructional practice and student learning. The process outlined is supported by research and displayed in a format that adds to its usefulness for teachers developing lessons that involve content-specific terms and concepts.