Miss Smith needs to define a vocabulary word during reading. Which instructional method should she use?

Miss Smith needs to define a vocabulary word during reading. Which instructional method should she use?

• A. Think-Pair-Share
• B. Shared Reading
• C. Point-of-Contact Teaching
• D. Direct Instruction

Answer: (C)

When a reader hits an unfamiliar word in the text, delivering a brief, explicit definition right at that moment is most effective. This immediate, targeted support is known as point-of-contact teaching. It connects the new word directly to the reading, often with a quick definition, a concrete example in context, and a quick check for understanding, so students attach meaning without losing momentum in the passage. Think-Pair-Share emphasizes discussion and articulating ideas with a partner, which isn’t about giving a quick on-the-spot definition during reading. Shared Reading involves reading together and modeling strategies, but it doesn’t focus on defining a specific word at the moment it appears. Direct Instruction is a broader, structured teaching approach that's typically planned away from the text and may interrupt the flow of reading, whereas point-of-contact teaching happens right where the word is encountered.

When a reader hits an unfamiliar word in the text, delivering a brief, explicit definition right at that moment is most effective. This immediate, targeted support is known as point-of-contact teaching. It connects the new word directly to the reading, often with a quick definition, a concrete example in context, and a quick check for understanding, so students attach meaning without losing momentum in the passage.

Think-Pair-Share emphasizes discussion and articulating ideas with a partner, which isn’t about giving a quick on-the-spot definition during reading. Shared Reading involves reading together and modeling strategies, but it doesn’t focus on defining a specific word at the moment it appears. Direct Instruction is a broader, structured teaching approach that's typically planned away from the text and may interrupt the flow of reading, whereas point-of-contact teaching happens right where the word is encountered.