Tier 2 Vocabulary

Tier 2 words are high-frequency words that children are likely to come across in many different subjects and texts. They are not as basic as everyday words (like dog or happy) and not as technical as subject-specific vocabulary (like photosynthesis). Instead, Tier 2 words (such as investigate, prefer or fortunate) help children develop richer language for speaking, reading and writing.

The FFT scheme we use at St John’s incorporates Tier 2 vocabulary, helping children develop the rich and versatile language they need for reading and writing across the curriculum. This supports children in building a strong foundation of words that they will encounter frequently in many different contexts.

At St Nic’s, we have specially selected 10 Tier 2 words for each English unit we teach, so that children can continue to build a strong and useful vocabulary.

Here are the lists of Tier 2 vocabulary for each year group: