Educational Terms and Definitions

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Academic Language

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The language students must understand and use for academic tasks (vocabulary, syntax, and discourse). Example: Students use correct math terms like 'denominator' and 'numerator' when solving fractions.

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Accommodations

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Adjustments in how students learn or show understanding without lowering expectations. Example: Allowing extended time on a test or providing notes for a student with ADHD.

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Active Learning

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Learning through student participation and engagement rather than passive listening. Example: Students perform a science experiment instead of just watching the teacher demonstrate.

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Analytical Writing

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Writing that explains how or why something works, breaking it into parts. Example: Students write about how a character’s decisions influenced the plot in a novel.

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Anchor Charts

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Teacher-created visuals that support student recall and strategies. Example: A chart showing steps for solving two-step equations displayed on the wall.

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Central Focus

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The main learning goal that connects all lessons in a segment. Example: In a social studies unit, the central focus might be understanding the causes of the Civil War.

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Community Assets

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Resources and strengths students bring from their communities. Example: A bilingual student drawing on local cultural traditions in a history lesson.

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Critical Writing

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Writing that evaluates or makes judgments about ideas or evidence. Example: Students write an essay comparing two political speeches and deciding which was more persuasive.

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Cultural Assets

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The cultural knowledge and experiences students bring to the classroom. Example: Using students’ cultural holidays in a lesson about traditions and diversity.

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Descriptive Feedback

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Specific, constructive comments that describe what a student did well and how to improve. Example: Your summary included the main idea—next time, add two supporting details.