Marzano’s 6 Steps Vocabulary & Word Study - Vocabulary Lists - SPIN Off Session

Oct 1, 2026

Marzano’s 6-step explicit vocabulary instruction framework focuses on domain-specific vocabulary prioritization and repeated learner experiences to build ownership of terms. It outlines a SPIN Off Session vocabulary practice structure with four experience layers, emphasizing initial exposure through explanation, student restatement, and visual demonstration. The material then moves into assessment-driven development, peer refinement, and review activities that sharpen word meanings, connect known to unknown concepts, and include kid-friendly examples, synonyms/antonyms, and vocabulary notebook recording.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Target domain-specific vocabulary

Four experiences model for term ownership

Follow the 6 steps of explicit vocabulary instruction

Step 1: Explain word meaning

Step 2: Restate orally and show visually

Step 3: Show with visual meaning

Step 4: Develop knowledge in contexts

Step 5: Refine with peers

Step 6: Review and play with word meanings

Vocabulary notebook routines

| VOCABULARY & WORD STUDY | Master vocabulary with Marzano’s six steps | COURTNEY GORDON
[cgordon@smekenseducation.com](cgordon@smekenseducation.com) | | --- | --- | --- | Target domain-speci c vocabulary. Acknowledge which terms to prioritize per content area. “Reading comprehension…is central Highly specialized words High-utility words Basic/Universal words to learning in the content areas.”~ Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey “Determine the words that would provide the of in a particular content area.” ~ Dr. Robert Marzano SPIN 􀀞 OFF SESSION VOCABULARY & WORD STUDY Session 5 Vocabulary Lists Readers need to have multiple experiences with a term before they “own” it. 4 EXPERIENCES 14 EXPERIENCES 40 EXPERIENCES Mastering new vocabulary is like dating someone new. | Strangers |
Introductions Acquaintances | Friends |
Dating
(Get to know) |
Dating
(Comfortable) |
Know intimately | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | Yearlong instruction should penetrate all four circles of vocabulary. © 2023 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • [www.SmekensEducation.com](www.SmekensEducation.com) 1 Follow the 6 steps of explicit vocabulary instruction. Honor the research-based process. STEP 1 Teachers must EXPLAIN a word’s meaning before STEP 2 STEP 3 students RESTATE it orally and SHOW it visually. LAYER INITIAL EXPOSURES Execute the rst 3 steps within the rst week. STEP 4 At that point, assess students’ DEVELOPING knowledge. STEP 5 Then ask them to work with peers to REFINE their STEP 6 understandings as they review and PLAY with word meanings. SHAPE & SHARPEN MEANING Execute the remaining steps across the rest of the year. MARZANO’S 6 STEPS VOCABULARY & WORD STUDY Execute Step 1: Explain and Step 2: Restate. LAYER INITIAL EXPOSURES WHY IS STEP 1 IMPORTANT? • Students need to hear an informal de nition of a term presented in kid-friendly language. Do not rely on formal or dictionary de nitions. • A link or connection is made between the word and the students’ background knowledge. WHY IS STEP 2 IMPORTANT? • Students are progressing in their understanding when they can restate the meaning of an academic vocabulary word. • Students demonstrate their general understanding of the term, explaining/restating it in their own words—not the teacher’s original words. EXPLANATIONS EXAMPLES SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS CONTENT CONNECTIONS DEFINITION Provide a general explanation using one of these sentence starters. • It is something… • It explains… • Itis a concept… • It is someone… • It is the idea that • It describes Clearly distinguish between EXPLANATIONS (convey the meaning of a term) and EXAMPLES (provide a single application of the term) . Connect the meaning of the term to kid-friendly examples/pop culture. • Life experiences • Stories, anecdotes • Scenarios, hypothetical situations • Visuals, videos, real-life objects • Current events, pop culture PERSPECTIVE—You knowhow in Minecraft you can change the point of view of your character to where you are looking at your character from the back as if you were someone else, or you can change it so that you are in the body of the character? That demonstrates two di erent perspectives. Connect the known to the unknown. • Brainstorm words that have a similar meaning. • Identify words that have an opposite meaning. Relate the term’s purpose/function to a subject-area concept. Read the formal glossary/dictionary de nition and compare it to the students’ informal explanations. MARZANO’S 6 STEPS VOCABULARY & WORD STUDY Enter the new term into a vocabulary notebook. Capture growing understanding. Vocabulary word Part of Speech © Petro Vocabulary Term: 1 2 3 4 Word Family Word Parts Noun: Pre x: Verb: Su􀀞x: Adjective: Root/Base: Adverb: Word Workings De nition (glossary; dictionary): Elaboration (in your own words): Exa

FAQs

How should teachers prioritize vocabulary in different content areas?

The framework targets domain-specific vocabulary and identifies which terms to prioritize per content area, connecting word selection to learning in those subjects.

What are the first three steps of Marzano’s 6-step process?

Step 1 requires teachers to explain a word’s meaning before students work with it; Step 2 asks students to restate orally and show it visually; Step 3 focuses on students demonstrating understanding through accurate visual representations and explanation.

How does Step 4 help students deepen vocabulary knowledge?

Step 4 assesses developing knowledge and has students apply the term across varied contexts, including creating oral sentences and using structured sentence practice tasks to strengthen understanding.

Oct 1, 2026

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