vocabulary-tiering-tool

Classifies vocabulary from texts into three tiers and generates prioritized teaching sequences with word cards.

Updated Apr 13, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/xiaoshan1234/ai-skill --skill vocabulary-tiering-tool-xiaoshan1234
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: vocabulary-tiering-tool
Source: https://github.com/xiaoshan1234/ai-skill/tree/main/role/english-teacher/skills/vocabulary-tiering-tool
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/xiaoshan1234/ai-skill --skill vocabulary-tiering-tool-xiaoshan1234

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Teachers struggle to identify which vocabulary words in a text deserve explicit instruction, especially for EAL students who face hidden barriers in everyday words, idioms, and false friends that native speakers take for granted. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Three-Tier Vocabulary Classification: Sorts significant words from any text or topic into Tier 1 (everyday), Tier 2 (academic, cross-subject), and Tier 3 (technical, subject-specific) based on Beck, McKeown & Kucan's framework and Coxhead's Academic Word List. - Prioritized Teaching Sequence: Ranks 5-8 priority Tier 2 words by importance for comprehension and generates word teaching cards with student-friendly definitions, context examples, visual cues, and common confusions. - EAL-Specific Flagging: Identifies Tier 1 words that challenge EAL learners, including idioms, phrasal verbs, multiple meanings, and false friends. - Use Case: A Year 9 Geography teacher pastes a textbook extract on urbanisation and receives a tiered vocabulary analysis, six word teaching cards, and a 3-minute gap-fill quick check activity ready for the lesson. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to tier the vocabulary in your text extract or topic for a specific year group and subject, optionally including student language proficiency levels.

Frequently Asked Questions about vocabulary-tiering-tool

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I identify which vocabulary words to pre-teach before a lesson?▼

Provide a text extract or topic along with the student year group and subject area. The tool classifies all significant words into three tiers and prioritizes 5-8 Tier 2 academic words, which offer the highest teaching leverage because they appear across subjects but are rarely taught explicitly.

What is the difference between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 vocabulary?▼

Tier 1 words are basic high-frequency words most students know. Tier 2 words are academic cross-subject words like analyse, significant, and consequently that are essential for comprehension but rarely taught. Tier 3 words are subject-specific technical terms like photosynthesis.

How does vocabulary tiering support EAL students?▼

The tool flags Tier 1 words that challenge EAL learners, including idioms, phrasal verbs, multiple-meaning words, and false friends with cognates in students' first languages. Word teaching cards include common confusions specific to language backgrounds.

What are the limitations of vocabulary tiering tools?▼

Tier assignments are guidelines, not absolutes, since a word's tier depends on student age and prior instruction. Pre-teaching provides only initial exposure; words need 10-12 repetitions across contexts. The tool also analyzes individual words and may miss multi-word academic phrases.

Can I limit how many vocabulary words are selected for teaching?▼

Yes, the optional word_count_limit parameter sets the maximum number of priority words. If not specified, the tool defaults to selecting 5-8 words, which research suggests is a manageable number for explicit instruction in a single lesson.