Vocabulary Helper is a built-in reading support tool that lets you look up any word in Beacon by K12 Tutoring instantly — including its definition, pronunciation, part of speech, syllables, synonyms, and subject-specific context. You can also translate words to Spanish with a single click.

Turning It On or Off

Vocabulary Helper is controlled by the Reading support toggle in your Settings. You can turn it on or off at any time without affecting your sessions or assignments.

Looking Up a Word

Whenever Vocabulary Helper is active, double-click any word in Beacon by K12 Tutoring and a vocabulary card will appear. The card shows:

  • Definition — a plain-language explanation of the word
  • Listen — click to hear the word read aloud
  • Part of speech — noun, verb, adjective, etc.
  • Syllables — how the word breaks down phonetically
  • Similar words — synonyms and related terms
  • Subject context — a subject-specific explanation (e.g., what the word means in Math) when relevant
  • Example and teaching notes — expand for more detail

Translating to Spanish

At the bottom of every vocabulary card, click Translate to Spanish to switch the entire card into Spanish — the definition, context, and all details are translated automatically. Click Traducir al inglés to switch back.

More languages coming soon Spanish is available now. Support for additional languages is on the way.
Look up subject-specific words The Math Context section is especially useful for words that have different meanings in everyday English versus in math — like "expression," "product," or "rational."