Key Features

The Words-in-Context Approach. Students learn new words by encountering them in meaningful contexts, not through rote memorization.

Abundant Practice. Each book is packed with activities, exercises, unit reviews, and tests that prompt students to interact closely with each new vocabulary word.

Appealing Content. Dull materials discourage learning. Our books avoid that. Each features high-interest passages students will want to read.

Digital Options. This textbook bundle comes with Vocabulary Plus, a powerful online vocabulary-building program that brings ALL the content of our famously clear, user friendly, Vocabulary Series directly to your tablet, smartphone, or computer.  See details in the Vocabulary Plus tab below. 

Affordability. Full version vocabulary books teach 300 key words/word parts and are priced at $12.90 each. Short Versions teach 200 words and cost $10.90 each. Bundles of long version books + Vocabulary Plus are value-priced at just $17.90; bundles of short version books + Vocabulary Plus are value-priced at just $15.90.

Standards Aligned. TP’s Vocabulary Series is a comprehensive, research-based approach to vocabulary instruction aligned with the Common Core Standards for Vocabulary in Grades 5-12. Each book in the series presents vocabulary words in multiple contexts, giving students ample practice in determining “the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.” In addition, the words-in-context approach requires students to actively figure out definitions though analysis using explicit or inferred meaning—a benchmark of the Common Core.* Looking for a Common Core aligned program to improve students’ vocabulary for success in school and beyond? With TP's Vocabulary Series, you've got it. *Common Core Standards RL.6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9-10.4, 11-12.4

Relevant Words. Words from the series were drawn from word frequency lists with alignment to state standards and standarized tests. The aim: to equip students with words they need to know.

Outstanding Supplements. Free supplements include:

• Placement Test. The TP Vocabulary Placement Test is made up of 100 multiple-choice items drawn from Townsend Press vocabulary books. A student's score on this test may be used to determine which TP vocabulary book would be most beneficial to that student. Free and available online or in print. 
• Instructor's Edition. Instructor's Editions for all of the vocabulary books are available to teachers with a class adoption of 20 or more students. They are identical to the student books except that they contain answers to all of the activities and tests.
• Instructor's Manual and Test Bank. Available as a PDF for each Vocabulary Series book, the Instructor's Manual and Test Bank contains the Vocabulary Placement Test as well as a pretest and a posttest for the book and for each of its units. It also contains teaching guidelines, suggested syllabi, answer keys, and an additional mastery test for each chapter and unit. Free to educators with an approved account in the Learning Center.
• The Learning Center. Free to educators with an approved account, the Learning Center is a digital learning environment that provides resources to accompany the Vocabulary Series. It includes PowerPoints, assessments, and much more!

New Features include:

• Hundreds of new items
• Photos added to chapter readings
• Updated digital content
• Contemporary design
• Broader, universal appeal for a wide range of readers
• Resequenced chapter and test items

Word List

-able
absurd
accelerate
accessible
acknowledge
acute
adapt
adhere
adverse
advocate
affirm
affluent
agenda
alienate
alleged
allude
alter
alternative
ample
anecdote
anonymous
anti-
antidote
apathy
apprehensive
appropriate
arrogant
ascend
assess
audible
auto-
avert
awe
bestow
bi-
bland
blunt
candid
cent-, centi-
chronic
chronological
cite
coerce
coherent
comparable
compatible
compel
compensate
competent
compile
comply
con-
concede
conceive
concise
confirm
consecutive
consequence
conservative
conspicuous
contempt
contrary
controversy
convey
data
deceptive
deduction
defect
defer
defy
delete
delusion
denounce
derive
destiny
detain
deter
deteriorate
devise
dialog
dict
dimensions
diminish
dis-
disclose
discriminate
dismal
dismay
dispense
disperse
distort
diversity
doctrine
dogmatic
dominant
donor
drastic
dubious
ecstatic
elaborate
elapse
elite
emerge
en-, em-
encounter
endeavor
endorse
equate
erode
erratic
essence
evasive
exotic
ex-
exempt
exile 
extensive
evolve
fallacy
fictitious
finite
fluent
forfeit
fortify
frugal
-ful
futile
gesture
graph, gram
gruesome
gullible
harass
hypocrite
idealistic
illuminate
illusion
immunity
impact
impair
impartial
imply
impose
impulsive
in-
indifferent
indignant
indulgent
inept
inevitable
infer
infinite
inflict
ingenious
inhibit 
initiate
innate
integrity
inter-
intervene
isolate
lament
legitimate
lenient 
-less
lethal
liable
liberal
literally
-logy, -ology
lure
mal-
malicious
man
mania
mediocre
mem
menace
micro-
miserly
moderate
mono-, mon-
morale
morbid
multi
naive
notable
novice
obsession
obstacle 
obstinate
optimist
option
ordeal
overt
parallel
passive
patron
ped
perceptive
persistent 
pessimist
phobia
phon, phono
plausible
port
post-
pre-
pretense
prevail
procrastinate
profound
prolong
prominent
propaganda
propel
prospects
provoke
prudent
query
radical
rational
re-
recede
recipient
reciprocate
recur 
refrain
refuge
refute
reinforce
relevant
reminisce
remorse
reprimand
restrain
retain
retort
retrieve
revert
revoke
ridicule
ritual
ruthless
sadistic
savor
scapegoat
script, scrib
seclusion
sedate
sequence
severity 
-ship
shrewd
simultaneous
site
skeptical
sophisticated
spect
stereotype
stimulate
strategy
sub-
submit
subside
subtle
summon
super-
superficial
supplement
surpass
susceptible
sustain
tactic
tedious
tele-
tentative 
theoretical
therm-, thermo-
trans-
transaction
transition
transmit
treacherous
tri-
trivial
un-
undermine 
uni-
unique
universal
urban
valid
verify 
versatile
vigorous
vis, vid
vital
vivid
vocation

Common Core State Standards Fulfilled by TP's Vocabulary Series

Looking for a Common Core-aligned program to improve students' vocabulary for success in school and beyond? With TP's Vocabulary Series, you've got it.

TP's Vocabulary Series is a comprehensive, research-based approach to vocabulary instruction aligned with the Common Core Standards for Vocabulary in Grades 4–12. Each book in the series presents vocabulary words in multiple contexts, giving students ample practice in determining "the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text." In addition, the words-in-context approach requires students to actively figure out definitions though analysis using explicit or inferred meaning—a benchmark of the Common Core. (For a complete listing of the CCSS, please visit www.corestandards.org.

The TP Vocabulary Series fulfills the following Common Core State Standards:

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards: R.4 and L.4–6

Grade-Level Standards: RF.4.3, 5.3

RL.4.4, 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9–10.4, 11–12.4

RI.4.4, 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9–10.4, 11–12.4

L.4.4–6, 5.4–6, 6.4–6, 7.4–6, 8.4–6, 9–10.4–6, 11–12.4–6

For more than two decades, the TP Vocabulary Series has helped millions of students learn the words they need for success in the classroom—and beyond. You be the judge of whether our effective, affordable series can work for your students, too.

This textbook comes bundled with a 10-month subscription to Vocabulary Plus, a powerful online vocabulary-building program that brings the TP Vocabulary Series to your tablet or computer for the cost of a single book.

Download a complete brochure to learn more, or visit our Learning Center.


Key Features of Vocabulary Plus
 

Independent Study (VPi): An adaptive mode of Vocabulary Plus that assesses students and manages assignments automatically. Suitable for classes and/or individual students, VPi dynamically adjusts difficulty to keep students challenged and motivated. And it rewards them too! Learn more about VPi here.

 Integrated eBooks: A subscription to Vocabulary Plus includes eBooks of all nine texts in the TP Vocabulary Series. Pages match exactly to the printed books, and students can even mark or annotate them using their devices.

Tests & Activities: Vocabulary Plus includes digital versions of all chapter activities from our printed books. In addition, two digital bonus tests have been added to each chapter. The result: Vocabulary Plus has even more content than our books!

Enhanced Items: Vocabulary Plus takes advantage technical abilities unavailable to books. Vocabulary in Context items have been doubled and feature pictures to help visual learners. Sentence Check 2 items now offer more challenging answer choices. All items feature instructive feedback.

Sights and Sounds: Each vocabulary word in Vocabulary Plus includes a pronunciation guide AND a clickable audio link of the word being spoken. In addition, many words also feature lively pictures to help students better understand and remember their meanings.

Review and SAT Words: Words taught in previous chapters are reinforced as review words in Vocabulary Plus. Review words refresh students’ memories and help them retain what they learned. In addition, SAT and GRE high-frequency words are given extra attention.

Data and Administration: Vocabulary Plus allows teachers to set assignments and monitor individual progress. Educators can also view the exact items students complete, the correct answers for those items (with explanations), and the answer choices students submitted. This data allows you to focus instruction where it's needed.

Automatic Assessment: VPi begins by individually assessing each student's vocabulary level. Students log in, click "Begin" and complete their assessment. Within minutes, they know their level and where to start. You do too.

Differentiated Instruction: Based on students' unique assessment scores, VPi places them into one of six levels that correspond to the grade level of our books. It then monitors progress, allowing students to advance chapters and skill levels when they've shown mastery.

 Motivation & Incentives: VPi rewards student progress. Earning high scores, completing chapters, mastering words, and advancing to a higher level are all achievements for which VPi awards students badges.

Want to Know More?

Download a complete brochure or visit our Learning Center to explore Vocabulary Plus for your classes.

Supplementary Materials

Building Vocabulary Skills includes the following supplements:

Placement Test. The TP Vocabulary Placement Test is made up of 100 multiple-choice items drawn from Townsend Press vocabulary books. A student's score on this test may be used to determine which TP vocabulary book would be most beneficial to that student. Free and available online or in print.



 

An Instructor's Edition. Instructor's Editions for all of the vocabulary books are available to teachers with a class adoption of 20 or more students. They are identical to the student books except that they contain answers to all of the activities and tests.


 

A combined Instructor's Manual and Test Bank. Available as a PDF for each Vocabulary Series book, the Instructor's Manual and Test Bank contains the Vocabulary Placement Test as well as a pretest and a posttest for the book and for each of its units. It also contains teaching guidelines, suggested syllabi, answer keys, and an additional mastery test for each chapter and unit. Free to educators with an approved account in the Learning Center.
 

The Learning Center. Free to educators with an approved account, the Learning Center is a digital learning environment that provides resources to accompany the Vocabulary Series. It includes PowerPoints, assessments, and much more! Along with these free materials, the Learning Center also hosts Vocabulary Plus, a comprehensive subscription-based word-building program that brings all the content of our vocabulary text to students' fingertips. Learn more here.
 

Print supplements can be obtained quickly by calling Townsend Press toll-free at (800) 772-6410, by sending a fax on school letterhead to 1-800-225-8894, or by e-mailing Customer Service at cs@townsendpress.com.

Measures of Success

Vocabulary Plus Independent Study provides educators with comprehensive class and individual progress data. It also supplies information to students so they can see and track their accomplishments. Here's some of the data that's provided in VPi.
 

Weekly Progress Summary: Students can view their weekly and cumulative results each time they log in. Summaries include average scores, number of words mastered, assignments completed, and amount of time spent working.

Detailed Activity Feed: Teachers can view a detailed Activity Log for each student. The log shows which assignments students completed, when and how long they worked, and the scores they achieved. Items that challenged students appear in gray, alerting teachers to areas in which students may need assistance.

Achievement tracking: To motivate and encourage students, VPi awards acheivement badges. High scores, chapter and test completion, levelling up, and mastering words are events for which badges are awarded.

Class Score Reports: Teachers can access detailed class reports at any time. They include students' initial assessment results; the number of activities, chapters, and units they've completed; the scores for each, along with the amount of time they've worked; and any achievements they've earned. Individual and class averages are also provided.

Download a complete brochure or visit our Learning Center to explore Vocabulary Plus Independent Study for your classes.

Educators, please click here to request a desk copy.