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�Vocabulary Knowledge Rating (VKR)�By:�Yvonne Hall�Knott County Deeper Learning Coach�

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What is VKR?

The VKR technique prepares students to become more self directed vocabulary learners by introducing them to critical terms before instruction begins. (adapted from Blachowicz 1986)

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Benefits of VKR

  • VKR uses a simple double assessment process to deepen understanding of key concepts/terms. Students rate their knowledge of terms at the start and then at the end of instruction.

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Example of VKR Organizer

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Area of Concern

  • In the whole group reading block, I have noticed students struggling to comprehend vocabulary terms.

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Successes of VKR

  • It’s very rigorous.
  • It trains students to assess and improve their knowledge of terms.
  • It focuses their attention on what they will need to learn.
  • It allows students to rate their knowledge at the end of the unit or text to see how their understanding has grown.

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Question

Question: How will the VKR improve student comprehension and knowledge of vocabulary

terms?

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Goal

My goal is to see if the VKR Model improves students understanding of vocabulary terms.

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My Action Plan

I will test how the VKR Model will increase student comprehension and understanding of critical vocabulary terms from a story.

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I expect 75% my students to demonstrate understanding and be able to explain vocabulary terms and their meaning after 2 weeks during our Guided Reading block.�

Expectation

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  • Students will be introduced the terms by having them see, hear and say them.
  • Explain these are the terms they will encounter and master during the upcoming guided reading texts.
  • Instruct students to assess and indicate the familiarity with each term by circling the appropriate number on the four point scale. Have them add up their points to get their initial vocabulary knowledge rating.
  • At the end of two weeks have the students reassess their understanding of each term and compare their final knowledge ratings with the initial ones.
  • The students will reflect on and celebrate their progress.

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Implementation

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Measuring Student Success

I will have students use different colored crayons on their VKR forms to do their initial and final ratings. This will make it easier for them to distinguish and tally their before and after scores.

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Name: Yvonne Hall

Grade: K

School: Beaver Elementary

Email: yvonne.hall1@knott.kyschools.us