12 Powerful Words

Dear Parents,

During professional development, your administrators and teachers have learned about "12 Powerful Words" that every child should know from Larry Bell.  Listed below you will find the 12 powerful words and the short, "student friendly phrases" that go with them.  

Research has shown that students who have a working knowledge of these words score significantly higher on standardized tests.  Even though our students don't take standardized tests, we feel we are empowering our students and preparing them for the future by familiarizing them with the words. 

We are asking for your help by knowing and using these words during conversations with your child.  This will support what we are doing in the classrooms every day.  Also, please, contact your child's teacher to find out how your child's grade is introducing the words and for ideas for using them with your child.

As always, thank you for your support and assistance in making this a wonderful educational experience for your child.

Sincerely,

HLE Faculty, Staff, and Administration

12 Powerful Words by Larry Bell

 TRACE - List in steps

ANALYZE - Break apart

INFER - Read between the lines

EVALUATE - Judge

FORMULATE - Create

DESCRIBE - Tell all about

SUPPORT - Back up with details

EXPLAIN - Tell how

SUMMARIZE - Give me the short version

COMPARE - All the ways they are alike

CONTRAST - All the ways they are different

PREDICT - What will happen next