Build personal academic vocabulary lists

Academic vocabulary is the set of words that appear across subject areas in your lessons — words like "infer," "analyze," "evaluate," and "justify." These words are not tied to one topic; they appear in science labs, history essays, and math explanations alike. Building a personal vocabulary list helps you own these words rather than just recognize them on a page.

Why a personal vocab journal works

• Writing a definition in your own words forces you to process the word deeply, not just copy it.
• An example sentence you compose yourself anchors the word to your real experience.
• Connecting a new word to a familiar one builds a web of meaning that is far easier to recall.
• Returning to your journal before a quiz activates memory faster than re-reading a textbook.

Six essential academic verbs for Grade 6

• Infer — draw a conclusion from evidence or reasoning, not stated directly.
• Analyze — break something down into its parts to understand how it works.
• Evaluate — judge the value, quality, or importance of something.
• Synthesize — combine ideas from different sources into a new, unified whole.
• Justify — give reasons or evidence to support a claim or decision.
• Contrast — identify and explain the differences between two or more things.