9th Grade English

9th Grade ELA Targeted Standards
(L) Language Strand
Cluster: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

ELA-09.L.04 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. 

a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. 

b. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).

c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

• I can understand the context of the sentence, paragraph, or passage.
• I can identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech.

Reasoning Targets

• I can determine meaning of unknown words based upon the surrounding context clues.

Skills (Performance) Targets

• I can choose the correct meaning of words in context.
• I can clarify and verify word meanings using reference materials.
• I can recognize prefix/suffixes and use them to make meaning.
• I can explain common roots and use them to make meaning.

 Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

• L.9-10.4 --Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

• L.9-10.5-- Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings in grades 9–10 reading and content.

• L.9-10.6-- Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the grade-appropriate level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

In addition to expectations of proficiency, student provides consistent evidence of in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond what was taught and expected.

• The student can

  • use context clues to determine the meaning of a word or a phrase.

  • identify and correctly use patterns of word changes (conjugation) that indicate different meaning or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).

  • consult reference materials for guidance in how to use, speak, or better understand a given word.

  • interpret figures of speech and analyze their overall role in the text.

  • analyze how certain words and phrases that have similar denotations can carry different nuances.

  • acquire and use college- and career-readiness level academic and domain-specific words and phrases. 

There are no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes as the student:

• uses context clues to determine the meaning of a word or a phrase.

• identifies how words change when used in different ways.

• consults reference materials for guidance in how to better understand a given word.

• recognizes or recalls specific terminology that relates to knowledge of vocabulary, such as context clues and conjugation.  

• defines and identifies various forms of figurative language.

• recognizes the difference between denotative and connotative meanings.

• consults reference materials to accurately use college- and career-readiness level academic and domain-specific words and phrases.

• recognizes or recalls specific terminology that relates to knowledge of vocabulary, such as: context clues, figurative language, conjugation, denotative, connotative   

However, the student exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes.