Updated May 2014
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Flocabulary: Vocabulary

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Whip-smart hip-hop songs offer enriched vocab instruction

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
2–12
Common Sense says
Not yet reviewed
Teachers say (2 Reviews)
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Price:  Free to Try, Paid Free 14-day trial, $96 per year for individual teacher or $2,000 per year for full school (other quotes available).
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

6 images
From the site’s homepage, click on the Vocabulary link.
There's an overview of the program, including live links for quick access.
Every lesson includes a video, interactive lyrics, and follow-up exercises.
The SAT Prep unit has 11 lessons, as well as a bonus song.
Songs are chock-full of useful, compelling vocabulary words.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Overall, the Flocabulary site has quite a few supports built in just for teachers, and the Vocabulary lessons are no exception. Teachers can find suggested calendars for grades 2-5 and 6-8 -- these include daily assignments, review exercises, assessments, and some homework ideas. What's more, these schedules can help with differentiation; there's one sequence for on-grade-level students and another for those who need more support. Teachers can use the search option to look for specific subjects or themes, and every song is aligned to the Common Core standards. There's also a handy list of recommended modifications for ELL and special ed students.

Every unit within the Vocabulary Grade 2-12 section focuses on a cluster of Tier 2 words. And, true to hip-hop form, every song offers multiple allusions and similes while centering on an engaging, real-life theme. For high school students, some extra planning might help to boost engagement. The lessons are dense and packed with great, challenging words, but high school students in particular might do better with writing and recording their own lyrics and songs. There's a great how-to guide for teachers on this -- students can incorporate vocabulary from specific lessons as a solid way to build context around their newly acquired words.

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Standards:

Key Standards Supported

Language

  • L.5.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

  • L.5.4a

    Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

  • L.5.5

    Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

  • L.8.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

  • L.8.4a

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

  • L.8.5

    Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

  • L.11-12.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11–12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

  • L.11-12.4a

    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.

  • L.11-12.5

    Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 2 reviews) (2 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Sean A. , Technology coordinator
Technology coordinator
District 75 Central
New York, NY
Learning words to a beat
Flocabulary is by far the most memorable way I have found for students to to retain the meanings of vocabulary words. The kids are so busy singing the songs, they hardly realize that they're learning. With lesson plans, graphic organizers, and extension activities all available right there, you don't have to do much on your own to create an engaging environment for vocabulary instruction.
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