Types of Words
Consider the following three categories of words (and keep in mind that you may have heard different terminology):
Reading Words: These are words that students encounter briefly in their readings. If you focus on (and have kids create a Frayer model for) every single one of these words, all you would do is vocabulary instruction. Have students use their context clue skills for these words, but you don't necessarily need to focus in on them unless they are also...
High Impact Words: A high impact word is a word that is vitally important. Students will see these words again and again, both in your content and in others, on your assessments and on the PSAT and SAT. Students need these words in order to communicate clearly. Tone words are examples of high impact words. Use the SAT word lists as jumping-off points.
Content/concept Words: A content/concept word is one that's unique to your subject. Literary terms are examples of these words. These words should NEVER (okay, okay, never say never, but RARELY) be taught without an explicit lesson. Having kids copy down definitions of 20 literary terms in isolation is not a good use of their time. After copying down definitions for metaphor, simile, anaphora, telegraphic sentence, onomatopoeia, personification, etc., with no examples or practice or analysis, students will remember exactly zero definitions. Each of these needs its own unique mini lesson, preferably on different days. That is not to say that you shouldn't have a word wall with these terms. You absolutely can. But they should not be taught in the traditional "vocabulary list" type of way.
Reading Words: These are words that students encounter briefly in their readings. If you focus on (and have kids create a Frayer model for) every single one of these words, all you would do is vocabulary instruction. Have students use their context clue skills for these words, but you don't necessarily need to focus in on them unless they are also...
High Impact Words: A high impact word is a word that is vitally important. Students will see these words again and again, both in your content and in others, on your assessments and on the PSAT and SAT. Students need these words in order to communicate clearly. Tone words are examples of high impact words. Use the SAT word lists as jumping-off points.
Content/concept Words: A content/concept word is one that's unique to your subject. Literary terms are examples of these words. These words should NEVER (okay, okay, never say never, but RARELY) be taught without an explicit lesson. Having kids copy down definitions of 20 literary terms in isolation is not a good use of their time. After copying down definitions for metaphor, simile, anaphora, telegraphic sentence, onomatopoeia, personification, etc., with no examples or practice or analysis, students will remember exactly zero definitions. Each of these needs its own unique mini lesson, preferably on different days. That is not to say that you shouldn't have a word wall with these terms. You absolutely can. But they should not be taught in the traditional "vocabulary list" type of way.