English language students often struggle to acquire and retain academic vocabulary due to limited exposure and insufficient opportunities for meaningful engagement with new words. Explicit, structured vocabulary instruction is essential to acquire word ownership, defined as understanding a word's meaning and using it in various contexts. This study investigated the implementation of the Frayer Model, a graphic organizer for explicit vocabulary instruction, at the secondary level in a specialized English language arts classroom. ELLs (n = 5) participated in the study, and the measures included multiple-choice tests and a writing assessment. Analysis of pre- and post-test scores showed that all students had improved their word ownership after the six-week study, with average test scores increasing by 57%. On the writing assessment, the average score was 69%, demonstrating a moderate understanding of the targeted vocabulary. The results revealed that the Frayer Model is an effective tool for developing word ownership among secondary English learners. Several implications for teachers are discussed, including how to use the Frayer Model as a scaffolded, interactive vocabulary teaching strategy to enhance student comprehension and long-term retention. Future research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the graphic organizer in different grade levels and content areas.