The Visual Non-Glossary
The Visual Non-Glossary is a complete, discussion-based lesson resource for math, science, and social studies, K-12. Every lesson gives teachers a structured visual, three discussion questions, and everything they need to get every student talking, thinking, and using academic language.
Most vocabulary resources give students a definition to memorize. The VNG gives them a structured visual to explore, questions to discuss, and sentence stems to practice with. With the VNG, students do not just know what a word means; they can actually use it.
Every VNG lesson includes:
designed specifically for the standards at that grade level
observational, relational, and inferential prompts that build from basic understanding to higher-order thinking
scaffolded academic language for every level of learner
writing, drawing, evidence-based reasoning, and more
accommodations for newcomers and emergent bilingual students included
downloadable and editable, with no prep required
Most vocabulary tools give students a definition and move on. The VNG is built around the belief that students learn language by using it, not by reading about it.
Every visual in the VNG is specifically designed to help students infer meaning and make connections. Not a photograph pulled from the internet. Not a generic cartoon. A carefully constructed visual that gives every student, regardless of background knowledge, a way into the concept.
The visuals are layered and accessible enough for struggling students to participate from the first question and deep enough for advanced students to keep thinking.
Every lesson is available in English and Spanish, making the VNG a powerful resource for bilingual, dual-language, and ESL classrooms.
Every lesson is organized by grade level and content area across K-12 math, science, and social studies, so teachers can find exactly what they need.
Among teachers using the VNG at least three times per week:
observed increased student engagement
observed increased student use of academic vocabulary
observed increased student confidence in class
observed increased success among emergent bilingual students
We will send you a sample VNG lesson at your grade level and content area of interest. One structured visual, dozens of opportunities for vocabulary development.
Send me a sample