More Than Words: What Effective Pre-teaching Really Looks Like

For students who are deaf and hard of hearing and/or have language disorders, pre-teaching requires more than memorization. This session explores how to build critical conceptual understanding and teach supporting syntax, enabling students to access content effectively. Practical strategies and examples will be shared for immediate application across educational settings.Participants will be able to: 1. Recognize the hierarchy of vocabulary identification, concept knowledge and the demonstration of comprehension. 2. Apply strategies to assess background knowledge and adapt vocabulary definitions to meet the language levels of individual students. 3. Use targeted activities to pre-teach syntax structures, supporting generalization across content areas.