3
WordStudySpiral
Vocabulary
Acronyms and Initializations
Lesson Objectives
Day 1
Students will:
• Read and write acronyms and initializations
• Define acronyms and initializations
Materials:
• Teacher Category Cards
• Teacher Word Cards—AMEX, PR, SWAT, PTA
Day 2
Vehicles: Vehicles:
SUV, RV SUV, RV
Expressions
Expressions
DNA
TEFLON
TEFLONpolytetrafluoroethylene
polytetrafluoroethylene
RADARradio detecting
radio detecting
and ranging
and ranging
DNA
DNAdeoxyribonucleic
deoxyribonucleic
acid
acid
PTA
FAQ
RIP
AAA
American Automobile Association
AWOL
DNA
Students will:
CST
3
4
OSHA
PTA
rest in peace
frequently asked questions
3
Pacific Standard Time
3
• Sort acronyms and initializations by the type of thing they
stand for
• Sort acronyms and initializations by whether they are read
as words or letters
RSVP
KISS
keep it simple, stupid
3
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus
sport utility vehicle
3
3
IOU AAA
Subject: SOS! SOS!
2.
DVD
2.
DVDRSVP
CD
2.
SUV
2.
SUV TLC
3.
PTA
3.
PTAOSHA
OSHARIP
RIP
3.
NATO
3.
NATO
OPEC
OPEC RSVP
RSVP
4.
DNA
4.
DNA
TEFLON
TEFLON
NATO
NATO
4.
DNA
4.
DNA
TEFLON
TEFLONSWAK
SWAK
5.
KISS
5.
KISS PST
SWAT
5.
RSVP CD
SWATUK
UK USA
USA
our plane was scheduled to leave at 11:00 a.m., EST, not 11:00 a.m. PST. Dad
misread the flight details, so here we are, stuck. By the time we arrived here
at 9:00, our flight had already been gone for an hour. We have no idea when
AAA
6.
AAA
CEO
CEO
6.
NATO
6.
NATO
CEO
CEO
CST
7.
CST
OSHA
OSHA
7.
MST
7.
MST
UNICEF
UNICEF
8.
SWAT
8.
SWAT
SWAK
SWAK
8.
NCAA
8.
NCAA
RV
RV
realized she’d packed her ID in her suitcase. It was so embarrassing! She had
9.
MADD
9.
MADD
SCUBA
SCUBA
to open her luggage right there in front of a whole line of people, rummaging
OSHA
OSHA
to get some lunch. But of course it couldn’t be that simple. When Mom went
SADD
9.
SADD
10. UPC
ATM
UNICEF
ATM
10. UPC
UNICEF
11. AMEX
11. AMEX
IOU
IOU
12. VIP
12. VIP
DNA
DNA
13. NASA
13. NASA
SWAK
SWAK
14. RIP
14. RIP
OPEC
OPEC
15. SUV
15. SUV
KISS
KISS
10. UPC
Thank goodness at least there is wireless Internet here so I can send some
11. DNA
able to scrape enough cash together to get some lunch. Can you believe that a
12. RADAR
12. RADAR
IOU
13. NASA
13. NASA
ATM
ATM
14. RIP
14. RIP
OPEC
OPEC
15. SUV
15. SUV
KISS
KISS
Date ____________________________________
ASAP so things can get back to normal. This vacation has been a bust . . . I need
some R&R from my R&R. ;-) Hope your day has been better than mine!
Joey
PS: See you at school on Monday.
Reading Passage (BLM 9)
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
First Try
Second Try
(if needed)
Correct Spelling
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
5.
5.
5.
6.
6.
6.
7.
7.
7.
8.
8.
8.
9.
9.
9.
our plane was scheduled to leave at 11:00 a.m., EST, not 11:00 a.m. PST. Dad
New Words
we can get another flight out, either, since the time of the next flight is still TBA.
1.
e-mails from my PC. Otherwise I might go crazy, LOL.
2.
As if missing our plane wasn’t enough, when we got to the check-in, Mom
3.
realized she’d packed her ID in her suitcase. It was so embarrassing! She had
to open her luggage right there in front of a whole line of people, rummaging
Materials:
• Quick-Check Assessment
through her dirty clothes to find it. After we finally got checked in, we decided
to get some lunch. But of course it couldn’t be that simple. When Mom went
Sentence
to get some cash from the ATM, she entered the wrong PIN three times, so it
swallowed her card and she couldn’t get it back! Luckily, Dad, Julie, and I were
able to scrape enough cash together to get some lunch. Can you believe that a
BLT and an OJ cost more than twelve dollars here?! I just can’t wait to get home
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Reading Passage (BLM 9)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Additional Materials:
• Word Study Notebooks
• Pocket Chart
• Dictionaries (Days 1, 2)
• Online Audio Dictionaries
(Day 2)
Date ____________________________________
Spelling Peer Check
Directions: Work with a partner. Follow the directions from your teacher to use this BLM to write
your spelling words.
1.
Spelling Dictation (BLM 10)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Take-Home Activity (BLM 8)
Name ___________________________________
3.
Sentence
swallowed her card and she couldn’t get it back! Luckily, Dad, Julie, and I were
BLT and an OJ cost more than twelve dollars here?! I just can’t wait to get home
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
2.
3.
through her dirty clothes to find it. After we finally got checked in, we decided
11. DNA
TEFLON
2.
As if missing our plane wasn’t enough, when we got to the check-in, Mom
Take-Home Activity
Take-Home
(BLM 8)Activity (BLM 8)
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
1.
e-mails from my PC. Otherwise I might go crazy, LOL.
to get some cash from the ATM, she entered the wrong PIN three times, so it
IOU
New Words
we can get another flight out, either, since the time of the next flight is still TBA.
Parent Directions:
Parent
Have
Directions:
your child Have
look atyour
each
child
set look
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitializations
acronyms and
andinitializations
choose
and choose
the one that is read
the one
as a that
word.
is read as a word.
TEFLON
3.
in LAX airport, where we are all stranded, thanks to my Dad. As it turns out,
7.
misread the flight details, so here we are, stuck. By the time we arrived here
Thank goodness at least there is wireless Internet here so I can send some
2.
Well, it has been a disaster of a day so far. I’m writing to you from a noisy lounge
6.
1.
in LAX airport, where we are all stranded, thanks to my Dad. As it turns out,
Hi, Pete.
RV
EST
Date ____________________________________
Spelling Dictation
1.
Directions: Look
Directions:
at each setLook
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitializations.
acronyms and
Choose
initializations.
the one Choose
that is an
theorganization.
one that is an organization.
Spelling Dictation
at 9:00, our flight had already been gone for an hour. We have no idea when
• Spell acronyms and initializations
RV
EST
Name ___________________________________
Review Words
Parent Directions:
Parent
Have
Directions:
your child Have
look atyour
each
child
set look
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitializations
acronyms and
andinitializations
choose
and choose
the one that is an
theorganization.
one that is an organization.
Review Words
Well, it has been a disaster of a day so far. I’m writing to you from a noisy lounge
NASA
31
Students will:
TLC
PST
Date ____________________________________
An E-mail from Joey
Date: July 5, 2010
To: peteyboy
1.
Name ___________________________________
Hi, Pete.
check to make sure underlines
are marked to overprint
(Window: Attributes)
Name ___________________________________
ChooseChoose
the Acronym
the Acronym
or Initialization
or Initialization
IOU
AAA NASA
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
Take-Home Activity (BLM 6)
1.
An E-mail from Joey
Subject: SOS! SOS!
Take-Home Activity
Take-Home
(BLM 6)Activity (BLM 6)
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Parent Directions:
Parent
Have
Directions:
your child Have
look atyour
each
child
set look
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitializations
acronyms and
andinitializations
choose
and choose
the one that does
theNOT
onebelong
that does
withNOT
the belong
others. with the others.
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Date ____________________________________
5
CST
MADDCST
Classroom Activity
Classroom
(BLM 7)Activity (BLM 7)
To: peteyboy
5
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
AMEX
MADD
Directions: Look
Directions:
at each setLook
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitials.
acronyms
Choose
and the
initials.
one Choose
that is an
theexpression.
one that is an expression.
Date: July 5, 2010
__________________
__________________
very important
very
person
important person
5
1.
Classroom Activity (BLM 7)
Name ___________________________________
__________________
__________________
AMEX
10. UPC
Materials:
• BLM 9: Reading Passage
• BLM 10: Spelling Dictation
• BLM 11: Spelling Peer Check
__________________
__________________
1.
9.
• Identify acronyms and initializations in a passage
• Create lists of acronyms and initializations
• Write and spell acronyms and initializations
ExpressionExpression
__________________
__________________
VIP
Directions: Look
Directions:
at each setLook
of acronyms
at each set
andofinitializations.
acronyms and
Choose
initializations.
the one Choose
that does
theNOT
onebelong
that does NOT belong
with the others. with the others.
5.
Students will:
__________________
__________________
Acronyms and
Acronyms and
Initializations
Initializations
5
VIP
Name ___________________________________
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
Date ____________________________________
ChooseChoose
the Acronym
the Acronym
or Initialization
or Initialization
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
UPC
Word Cards (BLM 5)
Name ___________________________________
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
Date ____________________________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
5
5
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Word Cards (BLM 4)
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Unit
Materials:
• BLM 2: Category Cards
• BLM 4: Word Cards
• BLM 7: Classroom Activity
• BLM 8: Take-Home Activity
• Teacher Category Cards—Read as Word, Read as Letters
• Teacher Word Cards—same as BLM 5
5
UPC
PIN
5
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
DVR
SONAR
VIP
__________________
__________________
UNICEF
Word Cards (BLM
Word
5) Cards (BLM 5)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
DVDDVR
SADD
SONAR
UNESCO
VIP
TechnologyTechnology
universal product
universal
codeproduct code
5
personal identifi
personal
cationidentifi
number
cation number
4
Word Cards (BLM 4)
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
UFO
CD DVD
RIP SADD
TLC UNESCO
Organization
Organization
United Nations
United
International
Nations International
Children’s Emergency
Children’sFund
Emergency Fund
5
PIN
United States of America
4
Word Cards (BLM 3)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
USA
SortingSorting
Acronyms
Acronyms
and Initializations
and Initializations
Word BankWord Bank
AAA
AAACD
MADD
MADD
RIP
SWAK
SWAK
TLC
5
UNICEF
NCAA
5
TV
television
5
5
I owe you
5
NCAA
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
unidentified unidentifi
flying object
ed flying object
National Collegiate
National Collegiate
Athletic Association
Athletic Association
4
SCUBA
SUV
5
IOU
I owe you
4
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization
4
TV
UFO
5
IOU
United Kingdom
4
SASE
self-addressed, stamped envelope
3
NASA
UK
radio detecting and ranging
3
RV
recreational vehicle
5
5
television
5
DVR
digital videodigital
recorder
video recorder
4
RADAR
répondez s’il vous plaît
(“please reply”)
3
MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
5
DVR
polytetrafluoroethylene
4
DVD
digital versatile
digital
diskversatile disk
4
TEFLON
TLC
5
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Parent Directions:
Parent
Have
Directions:
your child Have
read each
your acronym
child readand
each
initialization,
acronym and
think
initialization,
about its meaning,
think about
andits meaning, and
write it on the web.
write it on the web.
5
TLC
4
Word Cards (BLM 4)
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Name ___________________________________
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
Date ____________________________________
5
tender lovingtender
care loving care
5
DVD
to be announced
4
PST
CD
5
TBA
public relations
3
RIP
SADD
SAT
5
compact disccompact disc
4
PR
Parent Teacher Association
5
SAT
5
CD
special weapons action team
4
SADD
5
BBC
5
SWAT
Mountain Standard Time
3
ATM
5
BBC
British Broadcasting
British Broadcasting
Corporation Corporation Scholastic Achievement
Scholastic Achievement
Test
Test
4
MST
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
ATM
United States of America
4
Word Cards (BLM 3)
Students Against
Students
Destructive
Against Decisions
Destructive Decisions
automated teller
automated
machine
teller machine
4
SWAK
sealed with a kiss
USA
self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus
3
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Category Cards (BLM 2)
sound navigation ranging
4
EST
Eastern Standard Time
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
4
SCUBA
SUV
Word Cards (BLM 3)
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
SONAR
Central Standard Time
3
3
©2010 Benchmark Education
©2010Company,
Benchmark
LLCEducation Company, LLC
Anchor Chart (BLM 1)
OPEC
FAQ
Category Cards (BLM
Category
2) Cards (BLM 2)
Word Study & VocabularyWord
3: Unit
Study
31:&Acronyms
Vocabulary
and
3: initializations
Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
NATO
3
deoxyribonucleic acid
Anchor Chart (BLM
Anchor
1) Chart (BLM 1)
United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization
4
sport utility vehicle
3
Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries
3
absent without leave
NASA
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
3
AMEX
American Stock Exchange
or American Express
3
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
4
UNESCO
SASE
self-addressed, stamped envelope
recreational vehicle
3
United Kingdom
4
RV
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
UK
radio detecting and ranging
3
MADD
RSVPrespondezrespondez
s’il vous plait
s’il vous plait
RSVP
4
RADAR
répondez s’il vous plaît
(“please reply”)
3
TEFLON
polytetrafluoroethylene
4
RSVP
KISS
Chemicals
Chemicals
4
PST
Pacific Standard Time
3
keep it simple, stupid
VehiclesVehicles
The component
of some initializations
and
The component
words of words
some initializations
and
mayEnglish.
not be English.
acronymsacronyms
may not be
TBA
to be announced
4
rest in peace
3
4
PR
public relations
3
frequently asked questions
special weapons action team
4
Parent Teacher Association
3
SWAT
Mountain Standard Time
3
deoxyribonucleic acid
4
MST
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
3
4
SWAK
sealed with a kiss
4
OSHA
AWOL
SONAR
sound navigation ranging
4
EST
Eastern Standard Time
3
absent without leave
Organizations
Organizations
CST
Central Standard Time
3
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries
3
Countries:Countries:
USA, UK USA, UK
RADAR
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
3
AMEX
American Stock Exchange
or American Express
Some initializations
Some initializations
and acronyms
and acronyms
are formed
arefrom
formed
letters
from letters
that are not
thatthe
arefirst
not letters
the first
ofletters
the component
of the component
words. words.
Materials:
• Anchor Poster
• BLM 6: Take-Home Activity
• Teacher Category Cards
• Teacher Word Cards—same as BLM 3, CST, RADAR
Day 5
AAA
American Automobile Association
Expressions:
Expressions:
SWAK, FAQSWAK, FAQTime Zones:
TimeCST,
Zones:
EST CST, EST
• Use acronyms and initializations in sentences
• Sort acronyms and initializations by whether they are read
as words or letters
Day 4
Read asRead
Letters
as Letters
Organizations:
Organizations:
OSHA, NASA
OSHA, NASA
Chemicals:
Chemicals:
DNA, TEFLON
DNA, TEFLON
Students will:
Day 3
Read asRead
Wordas Word
Acronyms
Acronyms
and Initializations
and Initializations
Initializations
Initializations
and acronyms
and acronyms
often stand
often
forstand
organizations,
for organizations,
expressions,
expressions,
vehicles, vehicles,
chemically
chemically
derived materials,
derived materials,
time
time
zones, and
zones,
countries.
and countries.
ASAP so things can get back to normal. This vacation has been a bust . . . I need
some R&R from my R&R. ;-) Hope your day has been better than mine!
Joey
PS: See you at school on Monday.
Reading Passage (BLM 9)
Spelling Dictation (BLM 10)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Spelling Peer Check (BLM 11)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Spelling Dictation (BLM 10)
®
Kit 3_Unit 31_TG.indd 1
B
e
n
c
h
m
a
r
k
E
d
u
c
a
t
i
o
n
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Spelling Peer Check (BLM 11)
C
o
m
p
a
n
y
6/10/10 11:08:25 PM
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Day One
Day One Sort
Read as Word
Read as Letters
AMEX
SWAT
SCUBA
PR
PTA
TBA
DNA
Review Words from French, German, and
Spanish
Focus Words: brunette, vanilla, armadillo, strudel, schnauzer
Write the word brunette on the chalkboard and read it aloud. Ask students to identify
the language of origin. Guide them to use what they know about spelling patterns
and what they remember from the last lesson to identify French as the language of
origin. Repeat with the remaining focus words.
Supporting ELs
To help English Learners remember the
words initializations and acronyms stand
for, have them write the word and then
a simple drawing with a short word or
phrase in English to help them remember.
Blending Practice
If some students have difficulty reading
acronyms, help them read the acronyms
syllable by syllable. For example, point
to the word AMEX on the chalkboard.
Show how you divide the word into two
syllables between the m and e. Read
each syllable and then blend the syllables
together: AM/EX: AMEX. Continue to
support students who need help with
blending throughout the week, using the
example words used in the lesson.
Introduce Acronyms and Initializations
Teacher Word Cards: AMEX, PR, SWAT, PTA
Teacher Category Cards: Read as Letters, Read as Word
Model
Say: There are many examples of initializations and acronyms in the English
language. Initializations are the first letters in names or words pronounced as letters.
The letters that begin your first and last name are your initials. Write an example
on the chalkboard. Acronyms are also formed with initials, but they are said as
words. For example, NATO is said as a word, but the letters stand for North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. Write North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the chalkboard,
underling the first letter in each word. Then write NATO.
Place the category cards in a pocket chart. Say: We are going to sort words by how
they are read. If the word is read as letters we will put the card in the Read as
Letters column. If it is read as a word, we will put the card in the Read as Word
column.
Hold up the word card AMEX and read it aloud. Say: AMEX is read as a word. I will
put it in the Read as Word column. Explain that AMEX stands for American Stock
Exchange or American Express.
Hold up the word card PR. Say: The word PR is read as letters. I will put it in the
Read as Letters column. The letters PR stand for public relations.
Guide
Have students copy the two-column chart in their word study notebooks. Hold up
the word cards SWAT and PTA. Then, using the words already included in the pocket
chart and the category cards as a guide, help students decide where each new word
belongs in the chart.
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC. All rights reserved.
Teachers may photocopy the reproducible pages for classroom use.
No other part of the guide may be reproduced or transmitted in whole or
in part in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Printed in Guangzhou, China.
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
ISBN: 978-1-4509-0306-6
2 Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
Kit 3_Unit 31_TG.indd 2
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
6/10/10 11:08:25 PM
Apply
Assessment Tip
Write TBA, DNA, and SCUBA on the chalkboard and have students sort the
remaining words on their own.
Note which students have difficulty
identifying the meanings of the acronyms
and initializations. You may want to have
students create a chart in their notebooks
to help them remember the meanings.
Spelling Words with Acronyms and
Initializations
Unit Spelling Words: TEFLON, DNA, RADAR, RSVP, OPEC, NASA, TBA, AMEX
Acronym/Initials
Meaning
AMEX
American Stock
Exchange
SWAT
Special Weapons
Action Team
PR
Public Relations
PTA
Parent Teacher
Association
Write the spelling words on the chalkboard.
Explain that some initializations and acronyms are not formed from the first letters
of words. Use the following examples.
Write TEFLON on the chalkboard and say it aloud. Then write
polytetrafluoroethylene. Circle the underlined letters.
Home/School Connection
Write DNA and deoxyribonucleic acid on the chalkboard, circling the underlined
letters. Point out the letters DNA are actually part of the words deoxyribonucleic
acid and are not found only at the beginning of each word.
Write RADAR on the chalkboard. Point out that the letters in RADAR include
the first and second letter from one of its component words, so that vowels can
be included and make the word easier to pronounce. Write on the chalkboard
radio detecting and ranging and circle the underlined letters. Point out that some
acronyms, such as RADAR, have become regular words through usage: radar.
Students can take home a list of the
spelling words and practice reading,
writing, and spelling the words with a
family member.
Repeat with RSVP, OPEC, NASA, TBA, and AMEX, making sure students
understand what these initializations and acronyms are short for. (See the word
cards for explanations.)
Ask students to copy the spelling words in their spelling notebooks. Have partner’s
check each other’s spelling and circling.
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Kit 3_Unit 31_TG.indd 3
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations 3
6/10/10 11:08:26 PM
Day Two
Review Acronyms and Initializations
Meaning Sort
Organizations
Expressions
AAA
AMEX
MADD
NASA
NATO
OPEC
OSHA
PTA
AWOL
KISS
RIP
RSVP
FAQ
Vehicles
Chemicals
RV
SUV
DNA
Home/School Connection
Give students BLM 6 to complete with a
family member. Students can also take
home the word cards and share their sorts
with a family member.
Supporting ELs
Because some ELs may not have someone
at home who speaks English well enough
to work with them on BLM 6, make sure
that they understand the directions.
Display the anchor poster and discuss acronyms and initializations with students.
Write DNA and NASA on the chalkboard. Ask each student to turn to a partner and
identify the words they stand for. Then have partners create a sentence using the
word and share it with the class.
Meaning Sort
Teacher Word Cards: same as BLM 3
Teacher Category Cards: Organizations, Expressions, Vehicles, Chemicals
Place the category cards in a pocket chart. Explain that acronyms and initializations
often stand for an organization, such as a company or governing body, an expression
that people might use while speaking or writing, some types of vehicles, and
chemically derived materials.
Use the AWOL word card and model where to place the card in the pocket chart.
Think aloud: I know that AWOL is an acronym that means “absent without leave.”
This is an expression I might use in my speech or writing. For example, if Jimmy was
supposed to come dinner and never showed up, I might say, “Jimmy was AWOL
from dinner last night.” I will put the word card under the Expressions category
card.
Read aloud each word from the BLM 3 word cards. Discuss what each acronym or
initialization stands for, and ask students to tell you in which category to place it.
Spelling. Have students sort the spelling words using the following categories:
Read as Word, Read as Letters.
4 Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
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Day Three
Common Features Sort
Common Features Sort
Read as Word
Teacher Word Cards: CST, RADAR
Teacher Category Cards: Read as Word, Read as Letters
Place the category cards in a pocket chart and remind students that they have
learned that acronyms can be read as words, while initializations are read as
letters.
Hold up the word for CST. Say: This is an initialization which is read as C, S, T. It
stands for Central Standard Time. I will sort this in the Read as Letters category.
Repeat with RADAR, sorting it into the Read as Word category.
Point out that not everyone agrees on how to say every initialization and acronym,
so they may find some impossible to clearly categorize. Hold up the word card for
FAQ. Say: Some people say this as a word, /fak/, while others say each letter,
F, A, Q. In this case, you should sort the word as you say it.
Give pairs of students the category cards from BLM 2 and the word cards from
BLM 4. Have students sort the acronyms and initializations by whether they can be
read as words or read as letters. Give them access to an online audio dictionary, so
they can hear each acronym or initialization pronounced.
Blind Sort
Teacher Word Cards: same as BLM 5
Teacher Category Cards: Read as Word, Read as Letters
SASE
TBA
UK
USA
Blind Sort
Read as Word
Read as Letters
PIN
SADD
UNICEF
ATM
BBC
CD
DVD
DVR
IOU
NCAA
SAT
TLC
TV
UFO
UPC
VIP
Assessment Tip
Providing Support
Place the category cards in a pocket chart.
Hold up the word card ATM. Explain that ATM stands for automated teller
machine. Say ATM again and ask students where you should place the word card.
Place the card in the Read as Letters category.
Have students create a two-column chart in their word study notebooks with the
categories from the pocket chart.
Read aloud each initialization or acronym and have students write them into their
charts. After everything has been sorted, have volunteers read each list of words
and ask students if they are sure the words are sorted in the correct columns.
Discuss with students which words belong in which columns.
Applying Meaning. Give students BLM 7 and have them complete the activity,
choosing the word that best completes the sentence.
Kit 3_Unit 31_TG.indd 5
TEFLON CST
UNESCO EST
MST
PR
PST
Use students’ completed BLM 7 to assess
their understanding of acronyms and
initials. Note whether they need more
practice in identifying the type of thing
each stands for.
Have students record the sort in their word study notebook and use print
dictionaries to record the words the acronyms and initializations stand for.
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC RADAR
SCUBA
SONAR
SWAK
SWAT
Read as Letters
ELs and struggling readers may have
difficulty completing BLM 7 on their own.
Have them work with a partner and a
dictionary to read and complete it.
Home/School Connection
Give students BLM 8 to complete with a
family member. Explain that they are to do
the same thing they did on BLM 7 in class.
Supporting ELs
Make sure that ELs understand what to do
on BLM 8 since there may not be anyone
at home who speaks English well enough
to help them complete it.
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations 5
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Day Four
Providing Support
Instead of having students read the
passage independently, place students in
small groups of mixed reading abilities
and have them choral-read the passage
straight through. Then have them work
as a team to find examples acronyms and
initializations.
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
An E-mail from Joey
Give each student a copy of the passage on BLM 9. Tell them that they will read the
passage and circle words that are acronyms and initializations.
Read a few lines with students and model finding and circling acronyms and
initializations. Then ask students to complete the word hunt on their own.
Ask them to write the acronyms and initializations they find in their word study
notebooks and have them note what each one stands for.
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
Spelling Dictation
Date: July 5, 2010
To: peteyboy
Subject: SOS! SOS!
Hi, Pete.
o make sure underlines
ked to overprint
w: Attributes)
Word Hunt
Well, it has been a disaster of a day so far. I’m writing to you from a noisy lounge
in LAX airport, where we are all stranded, thanks to my Dad. As it turns out,
our plane was scheduled to leave at 11:00 a.m., EST, not 11:00 a.m. PST. Dad
misread the flight details, so here we are, stuck. By the time we arrived here
at 9:00, our flight had already been gone for an hour. We have no idea when
we can get another flight out, either, since the time of the next flight is still TBA.
Thank goodness at least there is wireless Internet here so I can send some
e-mails from my PC. Otherwise I might go crazy, LOL.
As if missing our plane wasn’t enough, when we got to the check-in, Mom
realized she’d packed her ID in her suitcase. It was so embarrassing! She had
Ask students
to go through what they have read recently to find examples of
Review Words
1.
acronyms and initializations. Have them write the examples in their word study
2.
notebooks.
3.
Then have students meet together in small groups and read the examples they found
Wordsgroup. As students respond, write their examples in a word list on the
aloud New
to the
1.
chalkboard.
2.
3.
to open her luggage right there in front of a whole line of people, rummaging
through her dirty clothes to find it. After we finally got checked in, we decided
to get some lunch. But of course it couldn’t be that simple. When Mom went
to get some cash from the ATM, she entered the wrong PIN three times, so it
swallowed her card and she couldn’t get it back! Luckily, Dad, Julie, and I were
able to scrape enough cash together to get some lunch. Can you believe that a
BLT and an OJ cost more than twelve dollars here?! I just can’t wait to get home
ASAP so things can get back to normal. This vacation has been a bust . . . I need
some R&R from my R&R. ;-) Hope your day has been better than mine!
Joey
PS: See you at school on Monday.
Spelling Dictation
Sentence
Give students Spelling Dictation (BLM 10). Dictate the following words from last
week’s spelling words to students, one at a time, and have students write them on
their BLMs: tortilla, petite, hamburger.
Home/School Connection
Dictate the following words from this week’s unit and have students write the
acronyms or initializations for each one: Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC), radio detecting device (RADAR), to be announced (TBA).
Have students take the reading passage on
BLM 9 home to read to a family member
and point out examples of acronyms and
initializations.
Dictate the following sentence and have students write it on their papers, substituting
an acronym and an initialization where appropriate in the sentence: The invitation
asked Chantrel to please respond (RSVP) to the function at the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NATO).
Answer Key Reading Passage (BLM 9)
Reading Passage (BLM 9)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Supporting ELs
Make sure ELs know the meanings of the
spelling words. Before student pairs use
BLM 11, have the partners tell each other
oral sentences using the spelling words.
Spelling Dictation (BLM 10)
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Spelling Practice
Give pairs of students Spelling Peer Check (BLM 11). While one student reads the
spelling words from his or her word study notebook, the other student writes the
words in the First Try column. After the second student has spelled the words, the
first student places a check mark next to words spelled correctly.
For the second try, the first student may prompt the second student by sounding out
the words that were spelled incorrectly the first time. If the second spelling attempt is
correct, the first student places a check mark in the Second Try column.
Then students switch roles.
6 Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
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Day Five
Name ___________________________________
Spelling Assessment
Date _______________________________________
Unit 31 Quick-Check:
Initializations and Acronyms
Use the following procedure to assess students’ spelling of the unit spelling words:
•Say a spelling word and use it in a sentence.
•Have students write the word on their papers.
•Continue with the remaining words on the list.
Answer Questions
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is an organization.
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is a time zone.
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is an expression.
1.
MADD
DNA
5.
AAA
EST
9.
VIP
SAT
2.
KISS
NASA
6.
CEO
PST
10. TV
TLC
3.
NATO
PR
7.
FAQ
CST
11. IOU
4.
RIP
OPEC
8.
MST
PIN
12. NCAA
DVR
SWAK
•When students have finished, collect their papers and analyze their spelling of
the words.
Apply
•Use the assessment to plan small-group or individual practice.
Directions: Using the acronyms and initializations from the word bank, complete the following sort. Write
each acronym or initialization in the appropriate sort category.
Quick-Check Assessment
____________
____________
____________
Organizations
Chemicals
Equipment
MADD
NASA
NATO
OPEC
DNA
TEFLON
SCUBA
SONAR
RADAR
____________
Word Bank
DNA, MADD,
NASA, NATO,
OPEC, RADAR,
SCUBA, SONAR,
TEFLON
Directions: In the space below, explain how understanding acronyms and initializations helps you as a
reader, speller, and writer.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC
Answer Key Unit 31 Quick-Check
Answer Key BLM 6
Suggestions for Independent Practice
Mash Up. Have students find out and write the initials of every student in the
class. Then group students in groups of four. Have groups choose the initials of
four students and create new initializations or acronyms using the letters of the
initials they chose.
Acronym/Initialization Hunt. Have pairs of students look around the classroom
and the school to identify initializations and acronyms used every day. Have them
choose an acronym or initialization they identified, and create a presentation to
help other students remember the meaning.
New Acronyms. Have pairs of students work as a team to create new acronyms.
Have them record the acronym on chart paper or poster board, provide a
meaning, and visually display the meaning. Have pairs present their acronyms to
the class.
One Minute. Remind students that they use initializations every day. For example,
they might use LOL to say laugh out loud in an e-mail, text, or note to a friend.
Give students one minute to write initializations and/or acronyms they use every
day. The greatest number wins.
Kit 3_Unit 31_TG.indd 7
____________
Think and Write about Acronyms and Initializations
Assess students’ mastery of acronyms and initializations using the Quick-Check for
Unit 31.
©2010 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Directions: In the space below, list three to five initializations or acronyms you know.
Organization
Technology Expression
AAA
MADD
SADD
UNESCO
CD
DVD
DVR
SONAR
RIP
SWAK
TLC
VIP
Answer Key BLM 7
1. CST
2. RSVP
3. RIP
4. NATO
5. SWAT
6. AAA
7. OSHA
8. SWAT
9. SADD
10. UNICEF
11. IOU
12. VIP
13. SWAK
14. RIP
15. KISS
Answer Key BLM 8
1. IOU
2. TLC
3. RSVP
4. SWAK
5. KISS
6. NATO
7. UNICEF
8. NCAA
9. MADD
10. OSHA
11. TEFLON
12. RADAR
13. NASA
14. OPEC
15. KISS
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations 7
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Name ____________________________________
Date ________________________________________
Unit 31 Quick-Check:
Initializations and Acronyms
Answer Questions
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is an organization.
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is a time zone.
Directions: Choose the acronym
or initialization from each pair
that is an expression.
1. MADD
DNA
5. AAA
EST
9. VIP
SAT
2. KISS
NASA
6. CEO
PST
10. TV
TLC
3. NATO
PR
7. FAQ
CST
11. IOU
DVR
OPEC
8. MST
PIN
12. NCAA
4. RIP
SWAK
Apply
Directions: In the space below, list three to five initializations or acronyms you know.
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
Directions: Using the acronyms and initializations from the word bank, complete the following sort. Write
each acronym or initialization in the appropriate sort category.
Organizations
Chemicals
Equipment
Word Bank
DNA, MADD,
NASA, NATO,
OPEC, RADAR,
SCUBA, SONAR,
TEFLON
Think and Write about Acronyms and Initializations
Directions: In the space below, explain how understanding acronyms and initializations helps you as a
reader, speller, and writer.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Word Study & Vocabulary 3: Unit 31: Acronyms and initializations
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