LINCS

Vocabulary
Strategy

What is the LINCS Strategy?

A more effective and efficient way of
learning new vocabulary.
The 5 LINCS steps cue students to focus on
critical elements of a vocabulary word.

List the Parts

Identify a Reminding Word
Note a LINCing Story
Create a LINCing picture
Self-Test

Chain Analogy
Different
pieces of
knowledge
are linked
together like
a chain.

When you apply the LINCS

Strategy to a word you need
to remember, you create a
strong chain between the
word and its meaning.

Many times, if you can remember

the information in one of the links
in a chain, you will remember
information in many of the other
links.
The stronger the links
between pieces of
information, the easier you
can remember them. The
weaker the links, the more
difficulty youll have
remembering them.

What are the Results?

Mean Percentage Correct on Social Studies
Vocabulary Tests
Test 2 (After LINCS taught in

Test 1 (Before LINCS)

class A)

LD Students in Class A
77%

53%

NLD Students in Class A

92%

84%

* Theser
esults are by M. Wedel, D.D. Deshler,f .B, Schumaker,& E.S.E llis, in prep., Effectso f
All Students
in Class B
86%

lnstructiono f a VocabularyS trategyi n a MainstreamC lass,L awrence,K S: Center for Researchin

Learning. Some of the LD students in this study received additional instructional time outside of
the mainstream class when they needed it to complete the practice activities.

85%

What do I Need?
Index cards
LINCS cue cards
In your packet
Book rings (optional)

What do I do?

All important information is recorded on a 3

x5 index card.
On the front and back the students will draw
a horizontal line in the center of the card.
On the back the students will also draw a
vertical line in center of the lower half

LINCS Cards

BACK
FRONT

List the Parts

A student is learning the meaning of the word

SERF (a peasant who served the lord of a
manor in exchange for protection)
Serfrf

FRONT

Write the Vocabulary

word on top and CIRCLE
IT!

List the Parts

Write the definition of the word Serf on the
top of the back.
Peasants who served the Lord
of a manor in exchange for
protection.

Identify a Reminding Word

Students create a mnemonic device using
the keyword technique.
Students say the name of the vocab. word
then think of a word they already know that
rhymes OR sounds similar.
The reminding word is written on the bottom
half of the front side of the index card.

Identify a Reminding Word

Serfrf
Server
In this case, Server sounds like Serf and is our
reminding word.

Note a LINCing Story

Students generate an association between
the familiar word and the new word by
creating a short story that links the meaning
of the two words in some way.
The student then writes the story on the
bottom left side of the back of the card.
Underline the reminding word in the story.
Be CREATIVE!

Note a LINCing Story

Peasants who served the Lord of a
manor in exchange for protection.

The servers at
the kings
party made
sure his glass
was always
full and were
given really
great tips!

Create a LINCing Picture

Students transform the information into a
visual image that they describe to
themselves or someone else.
Then draw that image on the lower right side
of the back of the card.
Example: I picture a fat king at a table with
little servers around him filling up his cup
and he is handing them money!

Create a LINCing Picture

Peasants who served the Lord of a manor in
exchange for protection.
The servers at the
kings party made
sure his glass was
always full and
were given really
great tips!

Your Turn
Create your own LINCS card for the following
words:
Remediation
Intervention
Tutoring