Vocabulary is at the heart of all communication. Without the words to express thoughts, emotions, or knowledge, learners are left frustrated and disengaged. For teachers—especially those working with English language learners, students with language-based learning disabilities, or even young children—effective vocabulary instruction is not just helpful; it’s essential.
Enter the EET: the Expanding Expression Tool. Developed by Sara L. Smith, the EET is a multi-sensory, systematic approach to help students build vocabulary, expand oral and written language, and organize descriptive details. Through color-coded, tactile prompts, it guides learners through essential components of word meaning and description, offering a scaffold that promotes expressive language growth in a clear, replicable way.
In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll explore:
- What the EET system is
- How it works
- Why it’s effective
- Strategies and activities for implementation
- Tips for different student populations
- Real-life classroom examples
Let’s dive in.
What Is the EET System?
The Expanding Expression Tool is a structured, research-informed method for teaching students to describe and categorize vocabulary words. At its core is a color-coded visual and tactile strand, often in the form of a string of colored beads, each representing a different descriptor or language element.
The EET “Beads” and What They Represent:
| Color Bead | Language Prompt | Question Cue Example |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Group | What group is it in? |
| Blue | Do | What does it do? |
| White | What does it look like? | What color, shape, size, texture? |
| Brown | Parts | What parts does it have? |
| Red | Where | Where do you find it? |
| Orange | What else do I know? | Any interesting facts? |
| Pink | Personal Connection | What do I think/feel about it? |
The EET system supports expressive language by giving learners a framework for expanding their thoughts around a word, which they can use in speech or writing.
Why Use the EET to Teach Vocabulary?
Traditional vocabulary instruction often involves rote memorization of definitions. While that approach may temporarily increase word recognition, it typically lacks depth, application, and retention.
The EET system addresses these limitations by:
1. Promoting Deep Semantic Processing
By encouraging students to think about a word in terms of function, appearance, location, and personal connection, they process the word more deeply, which improves memory retention.
2. Encouraging Expressive Language
EET prompts students to speak and write in full sentences, integrating grammar and vocabulary instruction in a natural, engaging way.
3. Providing a Consistent Routine
The system’s structure builds consistency, helping students internalize the steps and apply them independently.
4. Building Cross-Curricular Skills
Since the system teaches description, categorization, and elaboration, it supports writing across subjects—science, history, reading, and even math.
5. Helping Diverse Learners
EET benefits students with:
- Speech or language impairments
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
- English as a Second Language (ESL/EFL)
- ADHD or executive functioning challenges
Step-by-Step: Teaching Vocabulary with the EET
Step 1: Introduce the EET Beads and What They Represent
Use visuals and tactile tools to show students each colored bead and its meaning. Reinforce through repetition and physical interaction.
Tip: Use a poster or anchor chart showing each bead and its corresponding question.
Step 2: Model Word Descriptions
Start with simple nouns that are familiar to students. For example:
Word:
Apple
- Green (Group): It's a fruit.
- Blue (Do): You eat it.
- White (Look): It's round and red or green.
- Brown (Parts): It has skin, flesh, and seeds.
- Red (Where): You find it on trees or in stores.
- Orange (Facts): Apples can be made into juice or pie.
- Pink (Connection): I like red apples more than green ones.
Encourage students to speak in complete sentences using each prompt.
Step 3: Guided Practice
Choose a weekly "Word of the Week" or select curriculum-based terms. Use small group or whole-class instruction to describe the word using the EET.
Use a graphic organizer that mimics the beads for students to record their ideas.
Step 4: Independent or Partner Practice
Students describe vocabulary words using the EET either:
- Verbally with a partner
- In writing using sentence stems
- Through drawing and labeling
Example sentence stems:
- “It is a type of…” (Green)
- “It can…” (Blue)
- “It looks like…” (White)
Classroom Activities Using the EET
1. Vocabulary Journals
Students keep an EET-themed journal where they break down 1-3 new words per week. Use a foldable template with flaps for each color-coded category.
2. EET Vocabulary Wall
Create a classroom wall with words sorted by topic (science, geography, etc.), and have students add EET descriptions underneath each word.
3. EET Board Game
Create a board game with spaces that ask students to roll a die and give a description based on the bead they land on.
4. EET Story Builder
Once students have described a noun, have them use it in a short story. For example:
- Noun: Shark
- Story: “A shark, which is a type of fish, swims fast in the ocean. It has sharp teeth and fins. I saw one at the aquarium once.”
5. EET Memory Matching
Make EET flashcards (bead color + description). Have students match words to their descriptions or categorize descriptors by function or group.
Tips for Success
Use EET Daily
Repetition is key. Make EET a part of your daily routine. Use it for morning message words, spelling lists, or reading vocabulary.
Incorporate Visuals
Use visuals or realia to help students connect to abstract terms. For ELLs, pair EET prompts with images for clarity.
Adapt the Prompts
For younger learners or students with language delays, start with just three beads (e.g., Green, Blue, White) and gradually add more.
Encourage Oral Language
Let students talk through their responses before writing. Sentence stems and peer modeling are powerful supports.
Use Technology
Try apps like Seesaw or Book Creator where students can record themselves describing words using the EET prompts.
Differentiation with the EET
For English Language Learners (EFL/ESL)
- Use bilingual labels or translated EET posters.
- Provide sentence starters in both languages.
- Pair with vocabulary picture cards.
For Students with Autism or Speech Delays
- Break the process into multiple days or lessons.
- Use AAC devices with EET visuals programmed in.
- Provide additional processing time.
For Advanced Learners
- Use abstract nouns (e.g., democracy, justice).
- Have students create persuasive or informational writing using their EET vocabulary.
Assessing Vocabulary Growth with the EET
Formative Assessment Ideas:
- Exit tickets using a new vocabulary word and three EET prompts.
- Peer checklists during oral descriptions.
- Use rubrics aligned with the number of beads used and sentence elaboration.
Summative Assessments:
- EET-based vocabulary booklets at the end of a unit.
- Short presentations or posters describing key terms.
- Compare pre- and post-unit vocabulary journals.
Real Classroom Example: Ms. Lopez’s 4th Grade
Ms. Lopez, a fourth-grade teacher in Arizona, implemented the EET system in her science class. At the beginning of a unit on ecosystems, students struggled with words like photosynthesis, predator, and habitat.
She introduced each word using the EET, modeling with visuals and guiding students through partner discussions. By the end of the unit, students used EET vocabulary in written science reports and oral presentations.
Student example: “A predator is an animal that hunts others. It’s part of the food chain. You can find predators in the jungle or ocean. Some have sharp teeth or claws. A lion is a predator. I think they are scary but cool!”
Empowering Students with the EET
Teaching vocabulary doesn’t have to be dull or rote. The EET system gives teachers a fun, structured, and inclusive way to deepen students’ vocabulary knowledge while building their confidence and communication skills.
With consistency and creativity, the EET can transform how your students describe the world around them—and how they express themselves in it.
Resources and References
- Smith, Sara L. Expanding Expression Tool (EET) https://www.expandingexpression.com
- Marzano, R. J. (2004). Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement.
- Beck, I. L., McKeown, M. G., & Kucan, L. (2002). Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction.
- Biemiller, A. (2005). Vocabulary Development and Instruction: A Prerequisite for School Learning.
- ColorÃn Colorado: https://www.colorincolorado.org
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