Back to school word list

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Back to School Vocabulary: Easy English Blog

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It’s that time of year again! It’s time for kids to go back to school. At this time of year, lots of stores have back-to-school sales (special prices). Teachers may send home lists of school supplies (things you need to do a job) that students need. Because it’s back-to-school time, we put together some back-to-school vocabulary for you.

I always love back-to-school time. It’s the beginning of fall, which is my favorite season. People go back into a routine (set schedule). And I can start wearing sweaters again! What do you like about back-to-school season?

Notebook (lined/blank)

At the top of our back-to-school vocabulary is notebook. A notebook is used by students in most classes. It is a book of paper that you can write your own (comes from you, your hand) notes in. The pages can be lined (have straight, even lines to write on), blank (empty, no printing), or with gridlines (crossed lines). In most notebooks, you can tear (rip) the pages out cleanly.

For example:

• You will need one lined notebook per class for taking notes.
• Everyone open your notebooks and show me your math homework.

Subject / Elective

What classes did you take in school? Subjects and electives are classes you take in school. Subjects are the main classes you have to take, like math, science, history, and literature. Electives are classes you choose (pick, decide) to take that are not part of the core curriculum (main subjects), like creative writing, choir, theatre, or cooking.

For example:

• Math and Science are the most popular subjects for tutoring (extra help).
• Which electives did you choose this year?

Grade (1st, 3rd, 8th, 10th, etc.)

What was your favorite grade in school? Your grade is your level of schooling. Most people advance (go up, further) a grade each year. The lessons change and get harder with each year. In the United States, the lowest grades are pre-school, kindergarten, and then 1st grade, and the highest grade is 12th grade.

For example:

• What grade is your son in?
• I’m in 1^st / 2^nd / 3^rd / 4^th etc. grade.
• My 8th grade English teacher was my favorite.

Grades (A, B, C, D, F)

In school, the word grade can also be used to talk about the score (percentage you answered correctly) you got on a test. An A is the best grade, and an F is the worst.

For example:

• What grade did you get on your project?
• You need to receive a higher grade to pass the class.

Backpack

Students need something to carry their books, notebooks, and supplies around in school. Most students use a backpack to do so (this). A backpack is a large bag with two straps you put around your shoulders that is used to carry around school supplies.

For example:

• Get your homework out of your backpacks, please.
• Remember to take your backpack!
• No backpacks are allowed in the museum.

Locker

Where do students keep their coats and supplies they’re not using? In a locker! A locker is a large metal cabinet with a lock (something you use to keep it closed) on it. Students can store (keep things) they’re not using in it. Usually school children are given lockers when they change classes for each subject, starting in middle school or 6^th grade.

For example:

• I have to stop at my locker before my next class to get my math notebook.
• My coat is in my locker.

Recess

Young children need a break from school sometimes. They need time to run around and play with their friends on a playground. This is exactly what recess is for! Recess is a small break from school, usually after mid-morning, for kids to play.

For example:

• The children had recess inside today because it was raining.
• My favorite part of school was recess and lunch! Haha!

Home room

Once you’re in middle or latest high school, you’ll usually have home room. Home room is your very first class of the day. There, the teacher can see that you’re at school and go through the daily news. After home room, you move to different classes and teachers throughout the day.

For example:

• Who do you have for home room this year?
• Every student goes to home room before they attend (go to) their first class.

Homework

Some people like homework, and some people don’t. Homework is work given by the teacher to do at home. Homework is meant to help you practice what you learned in school that day.

For example:

• I have no homework tonight!
• What did your teacher give you for homework today?

Test / Quiz / Pop Quiz

Tests, quizzes, and pop quizzes are an important part of school work. They help show your teachers how much you’ve learned and give you a good idea of what you still need to work on.

A pop quiz is a surprise quiz that the teacher didn’t tell you about beforehand (before the quiz took place). A quiz is a couple of questions that tests your progress. A test is much longer than a quiz, usually worth more for the class, and is given at the end of a unit or semester. There are usually more quizzes in a class than big tests.

For example:

• Our teacher gave us a pop quiz today-I’m so glad I studied my back-to-school vocabulary last night!
• There’s going to be a short quiz on Monday.
• We have a test on Friday that I need to study for.

Study

How do you prepare for a quiz or test? You study! Studying is when you review the information you were taught in class in order to (so that you can) prepare (get ready) for a test or quiz. Studying helps you to remember (review) what you’ve learned.

For example:

• I can’t go out this weekend. I have to study for an exam on Tuesday.
• He studied very hard for the end of year tests.

Do you know someone going back to school soon? Why not share this back-to-school vocabulary with them? Share your back-to-school experiences with us in the comments below!

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Check out these other popular blogs: Taboo words in English, 7 Synonyms for Being Drunk, 7 American English Slang Words, or these Sports Idioms used in English!

Erin Duffin lives in Hamburg, is an English teacher, blogger, yoga instructor, and is sure that this back-to-school vocabulary will get you ready for the next school year – whether you are sending your kids or going yourself! Have fun!

Looking for more phrases, ways to use English everyday, or get the conversation started? Sign up for our newsletter or check out the website!

Crystal Fisher2019-09-05T08:37:14+01:00

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By Ashley Austrew

Vocabulary is one of the keys to literacy, and having a strong foundational vocabulary can help kids learn more and perform better across many different subjects.

Luckily, at Dictionary.com, we have customized word lists to help learners at every level improve their vocabularies, work on their spelling, and more. Getting ready for a new school year has never been simpler than with our easy-to-use digital flashcards, spelling tests, and word quizzes. The vocabulary lists below are specially prepared according to students’ needs at each grade level. Practice with your students for 10 to 15 minutes each day, try out our quizzes to see how you’re doing, and let us help get your child prepared to excel in the school year ahead.

Jump right into our library of grade-specific word lists right here, and then explore other fun topics to boost your knowledge.

Kindergarten vocabulary words and tips

In kindergarten, most kids are still laying the foundation for literacy. Some may be early readers, while others are still working on grasping the basics of phonics. At this stage, learning vocabulary typically means, for newer learners, sounding out and memorizing high frequency words and, for more advanced learners, decoding early multisyllabic words.

High frequency words are common words found in English, like the or and, that kids can learn to instantly recognize so they don’t have to sound them out every time. Sight words are similar, except sight words typically can’t be sounded out because they don’t follow common phonetic patterns. An example of this is the word could. In the case of sight words, kids typically just have to memorize them to make reading easier.

There are high frequency words and sight words at every grade level, but they hold extra importance for kindergarteners because they’re some of the very first words kids in this age group learn. To help support your kindergartener, be sure to read together daily. You can also take our kindergarten word quiz together to see how they’re doing. Here are some of the early high frequency and sight words they need to know:

• Kindergarten Vocab Word List 1:
  • is
  • the
  • can
  • see
  • go
  • it
  • no … full list
• Kindergarten Vocab Word List 2:
  • say
  • ride
  • how
  • into
  • call
  • been
  • she … full list
• Kindergarten Vocab Word List 3:
  • big
  • yes
  • well
  • look
  • was
  • went
  • cat … full list

Is your kindergartner ready to see how much they’ve learned? Then take this quiz together!

First-grade vocabulary words and tips

In first grade, kids begin building on the strong literacy foundation that was created in kindergarten. They are still learning high frequency and sight words, but the words become more complex; for instance, they may have multiple syllables or silent letters. At this stage, most kids can read simple stories and talk to parents about what they read. They are also starting to work on writing sentences and short paragraphs.

Review some of the basic rules of spelling here.

You can support kids in this stage by reading together and talking about what you’ve read, including any new or unfamiliar words you came across while reading. Your child may want to keep a word journal where they can write down and review these new words. Simple flash cards from our word lists are also a useful tool. Here are some words to focus on in first grade:

• First-Grade Vocab Word List 1:
  • add
  • have
  • make
  • good
  • America
  • before
  • change … full list
• First-Grade Vocab Word List 2:
  • after
  • here
  • many
  • going
  • another
  • because
  • different … full list
• First-Grade Vocab Word List 3:
  • again
  • him
  • new
  • goes
  • answer
  • back
  • does … full list

When your first-grader has reviewed the words and ready for more, they can take this quiz!

Second-grade vocabulary words and tips

By second grade, kids are becoming more advanced in both their reading and writing skills. They can now decode multisyllable words, like capital. They should have automatic recall of some of the simpler sight words and high frequency words they learned in first grade and kindergarten. You might also find that they’re starting to show more of an interest in reading for pleasure, and they might be developing favorite genres and authors.

Kids are also becoming stronger writers at this age. In addition to reading longer and more complex texts, a good way to practice vocabulary with them is to ask them to write a simple story using at least five to 10 words from the following word lists. Here are common words to know and learn in second grade:

• Second-Grade Vocab Word List 1:
  • zoo
  • woman
  • caught
  • dark
  • clothes
  • among
  • early … full list
• Second-Grade Vocab Word List 2:
  • your
  • fire
  • while
  • deer
  • bed
  • clean
  • another … full list
• Second-Grade Vocab Word List 3:
  • yesterday
  • wish
  • deep
  • close
  • answer
  • ball
  • friend … full list

This quiz on second grade vocabulary is the perfect assessment after reviewing these lists. Take it here.

Third-grade vocabulary words and tips

Third grade is an exciting year for learners. They have mastered many of the basics of literacy, and are building on these skills through reading both fiction and non-fiction. Most third graders can now use letter-sound correspondence knowledge and structural analysis to decode words. They’re able to read independently, and they should be reading fluidly when they read out loud.

The vocabulary kids learn at this stage can help them in other subjects, like science and math, as well. It may be helpful to give them access to the Dictionary.com app to look up new words as they read. Third graders may also have fun testing their knowledge with our spelling tests and word quizzes. Here are some of the new vocabulary words third graders may encounter:

•  Third-Grade Vocab Word List 1:
  • animal
  • care
  • eleven
  • night
  • intelligent
  • hurt
  • August … full list
• Third-Grade Vocab Word List 2:
  • April
  • caught
  • must
  • Friday
  • occur
  • favorite
  • coast … full list
• Third-Grade Vocab Word List 3:
  • asked
  • father
  • called
  • street
  • Thursday
  • July
  • gym … full list

Third grade vocabulary becomes a fun challenge with this quiz inspired by our word lists!

Fourth-grade vocabulary words and tips

By fourth grade, kids are engaging with words and language on a deeper level. They will encounter lots of new words as they read and study other subjects, but they are typically able to use previous knowledge to decode unfamiliar multisyllable words. They can also read with more accurate comprehension and better pacing, and their writing becomes more complex as well.

Take advantage of your child’s growing skills by introducing some of these educational games  that will be fun for everyone.

Many of the terms kids will need for fourth grade include words they’ll use in math, science, and history. To help them get a good grasp of how these words are used, encourage them to read and look for the words in age-appropriate news articles or online research sources. They can quiz themselves with flashcards on Dictionary.com, as well as take advantage of our quizzes and games. Here are three lists of essential fourth grade vocabulary words to help you get started:

• Fourth-Grade Vocab Word List 1:
  • difference
  • accomplish
  • purpose
  • develop
  • minimum
  • threatens
  • recommend … full list
• Fourth-Grade Vocab Word List 2:
  • couldn’t
  • adaptation
  • represent
  • trouble
  • hundred
  • simplify
  • compare … full list
• Fourth-Grade Vocab Word List 3:
  • close
  • turned
  • usual
  • support
  • bigger
  • distribute
  • increasing … full list

Reviewed all these words? Then it’s time to take the fourth grade vocabulary quiz!

Fifth-grade vocabulary words and tips

Many fifth graders have mastered the foundations of literacy and decoding words. Now, they may be interested in expanding their vocabularies to help them read and comprehend more complex texts, understand new concepts at school, and become better writers and communicators.

Fifth graders are starting to do more complex school work, like research projects, book reports, and science projects. Studying new vocabulary can help them deepen their understanding of the things they read and explore. Knowing more words also simply makes it easier to read and write at every level.

Vocabulary is often easiest to learn in practice. At this age, kids may enjoy starting a book club with peers and discussing the vocabulary, concepts, and themes they encounter in their favorite books. They may also have a lot of fun recording new words they learn, checking them out on Dictionary.com, and using our quizzes and spelling lists to test their own knowledge. Here are some terms kids are likely to come across and need to know to excel in fifth grade:

• Fifth-Grade Vocab Word List 1:
  • a lot
  • already
  • complete
  • always
  • beautiful
  • whole
  • heard … full list
• Fifth-Grade Vocab Word List 2:
  • against
  • therefore
  • possible
  • certain
  • although
  • among
  • sum … full list
• Fifth-Grade Vocab Word List 3:
  • almost
  • country
  • answer
  • themselves
  • weather
  • beyond
  • several … full list

This fifth grade vocabulary quiz is waiting for anyone whose word skills are prepared for a challenge.

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Ashley Austrew is a freelance journalist and writer from Omaha, Nebraska. Her work has been published at Cosmopolitan, Scary Mommy, Scholastic, and other outlets. For more by Ashley, read: “Teacher” vs. “Tutor”: Why Most Kids Need Both | Leave The Best Impression With Our Tips For National Proofreading Day | Make Your Writing The Star Of National Grammar Day With These Tips

Welcome the new school year with this list of over 180 school words.

There’s school vocabulary words grouped alphabetically and by theme. There’s school terms grouped by:

• A to Z
• school supplies
• school subjects

Click on the following link if you’re looking for school spelling words.

School Words from A – Z

First, here is a list of school words in alphabetical order:

A

• absent
• academic
• admission
• agenda
• alphabet
• answers
• arithmetic
• Art
• assembly
• assignment
• attendance
• awards

B

• backpack
• Back to School
• binder
• Biology
• blackboard
• bookmarks
• books
• boys
• bus

C

• cafeteria
• calculator
• calendar
• chair
• chalkboard
• Chemistry
• class
• classmate
• classroom
• college
• colored pencils
• computers
• construction paper
• correct
• course
• crayons

D

• desk
• detention
• dictionary
• diploma
• Drama
• dress code

E

• education
• elementary
• English
• enrolled
• eraser
• exam
• excel
• experiment

F

• failed
• flashcards
• foreign language
• French
• friends

G

• Geography
• Geometry
• girls
• globe
• glue (glue stick)
• grade(s)
• graduate
• graduation
• grammar
• graph paper
• group
• guidance counselor
• Gym

H

• hall pass
• Health
• highlighter
• high school
• History
• homeschooling
• homeroom
• homework

I

• ink
• instruction

J

• janitor
• junior

K

• kids
• kindergarten

L

• language
• Language Arts
• laptop
• learn
• lesson
• library
• line up
• literature
• lockers
• lunch
• lunchroom

M

• mark
• markers
• maps
• Math
• mathematics
• memorize
• middle school
• Music

N

• notebook
• novels
• numbers

O

• office
• oral presentation
• outside

P

• paint
• paper
• passed
• pencil
• pencil case
• pencil sharpeener
• pens
• period
• Physical Education
• Physics
• playground
• preschool
• presentation
• primary
• principal
• private
• project
• protractor
• public
• pupil

Q

• questions
• quiz

R

• reading
• recess
• ruler

S

• scholarship
• school
• school bus
• Science
• scissors
• seats
• secondary
• senior
• sharpener
• sixth
• smart
• snack
• Social Studies
• sophomore
• Spanish
• spelling
• sports
• staples
• student
• subject
• substitute
• study
• summer school
• supplies

T

• tape
• teach (taught)
• teacher
• test
• thesaurus
• track and field
• tutor

U

• underline
• uniform
• university

V

• vocabulary
• vocational school

W

• watercolors
• water fountain
• whiteboard
• words
• work
• writing

X

• x-axis

Y

• yard
• year
• youth

Z

• zero
• zoom

School Themed Word Lists

School Supplies

Here is a vocabulary list of common school supplies:

• agenda
• backpack
• binders
• books
• calculator
• chalk
• colored pencils
• combination lock
• computer
• construction paper
• crayons
• dictionary
• eraser
• Geometry set
• glue
• glue stick
• graph paper
• highlighters
• laptop
• notebook
• oil pastels
• paint
• paper
• pencils
• pencil case
• pencil crayons
• pencil sharpener
• pens
• ruler
• scissors
• subject dividers
• tape
• thesaurus
• water bottle
• workbooks

Did we forget one? Let us know any school supply words we missed in the comments below.

School Subjects

The core school subjects usually include:

• Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

English or Language Arts classes or could be further broken down into:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Writing

Math classes could be:

• Algebra
• Arithmetic
• Calculus
• Geometry
• Pre-algebra
• Statistics
• Trigonometry

Science classes could include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics

Social Studies could include:

• Geography
• History

Other common school subjects are:

• Art
• Computers
• Drama
• Foreign Language
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish, etc.
• Library
• Music
• Physical Education (P.E.)
  • Health

Did we miss a subject? Let us know in the comments below. Lunch and recess don’t count lol.

Back to School Word Puzzles and Activities

Here are some fun printable back to school word puzzles and activities that use many of these school vocabulary words:

• back to school word searches for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th graders
• 5th grade word search
• 6th grade word search
• difficult back to school word search for elementary students ready for a challenge 
• back to school crossword puzzles for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th graders
• back to school word scrambles
• back to school fill in puzzles

Or try these back to school themed spelling words.

Assignment ­- a particular task or duty

Enroll — to join a class

Examination ­- A set of questions or exercises testing knowledge or skill

Schedule — a list of the times when classes in school happen

Take an exam / sit an exam — do an exam

Pass an exam — get a good enough mark to succeed

Get a good / high mark — do well in the exam

Get a bad / low mark — do badly in the exam

Pass with flying colours — pass with high marks

Hit the books — to begin to study hard

Flunk out — to fail a class or course and leave school

Cut class — to not go to class

Bookworm — someone who reads a lot

Take extra lessons / have private tuition / private coaching — pay for a personal teacher to help you with the subject

Graduation — when you receive your degree for completing your education or a course of study

Freshman — (also frosh) a student in the first year of high school, college, or university

Recess — the break time between classes is called recess.