Vocabulary
What the experts say about vocabulary:
Words are the instruments that authors and poets use to enchant us, delight us, sadden us, amaze us. ~ Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, & Linda Kucan
A robust approach to vocabulary involves directly explaining the meanings of words along with thought-provoking, playful and interactive follow-up.~ Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, & Linda Kucan
Written text places high demands on vocabulary knowledge...Learning new concepts and the words that encode them is essential for comprehension development.~ Catherine E. Snow, Susan Burns, & Peg Griffin
Go to Reading Rockets and learn more about vocabulary!
Test 1
Test 2
OVERVIEW of vocabulary
Students need to develop both their speaking and listening vocabulary. The first refers to those words a student can use when speaking and the latter refers to the spoken words that a student can understand. Each type of vocabulary supports literacy development, as well as learning in other subject areas. Vocabulary knowledge is especially important to reading and listening comprehension.
TEACHING vocabulary
There are several effective ways to boost vocabulary. Provide students with the opportunity to learn new word meanings indirectly, such as through conversations and shared storybook reading, explicitly teach word meanings, and teach effective word-learning strategies. Create opportunities for students to use new and interesting words in meaningful ways in different contexts.
ASSESSING vocabulary
Assess students’ knowledge of word meanings frequently. Students can tell you the meaning of a word, name objects or pictures, or match pictures with words. They can also act out words, phrases, or ideas. Attend to the words students use when writing and speaking and note whether they can use a variety of words in an appropriate manner.
Featured Videos
Dramatic Vocabulary:
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Super Words:
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Four Square Vocabulary Cards:
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All Vocabulary Recipes
Procedure Match Up: Building the Foundation for Procedural Writing
The Conversation Station: A Center for Developing Oral Language and Vocabulary Skills
Get to the Root of It: Exploring Word Roots to Enhance Vocabulary and Spelling
What Does That Word Mean?: Using the Dictionary to Support Vocabulary Learning
Five Senses Story Reading: Building Reading Comprehension
Fist Lists: A Graphic Organizer for Learning Vocabulary
Creating Crossword Puzzles: Engaging Students with Content Area Vocabulary
Transform-a-Verb: Enhancing Students' Understanding of Inflectional Endings
Four Square Vocabulary Cards: Providing a Rich Context for New Words
Blooming Prefixes and Suffixes: Developing Word Knowledge by Looking at Word Parts
Exploring Compound Words: Improving Vocabulary Knowledge and Spelling Skills
The Said Web: Improving Written Compositions by Brainstorming Interesting Synonyms
Cinquains with a Twist: Building Vocabulary Through Cinquain Poetry
Using "Fancy" Words: Exploring Synonyms to Improve Writing
Who's That Community Helper?: Building Knowledge, Language, and Early Literacy Skills
The Lost Suitcase: Creating a Purpose for Descriptive Writing
Hunting for Opposites: Expanding Vocabulary Knowledge by Exploring Antonyms
Word Explosion: Linking Vocabulary and Spelling
Recipe for Me: Motivating Procedural Writing
Climb the Word Ladder: Raising Spelling, Vocabulary and Phonics Skills
Concept Maps: Expanding Vocabulary Networks
Imagine That Word!: Expanding Vocabulary Through Visual Imagery
Personal Dictionary: Making Real-Life Connections to Build Vocabulary
Concept Muraling: Organizing Knowledge Visually to Improve Comprehension
Word Wall: Expanding Vocabulary in Third and Fourth Grade (Virtual Tour)
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Third and Fourth Grade (Virtual Tour)
CAFÉ: Engaging Third and Fourth Grade Students in Assessment and Instruction (Virtual Tour)
Designing Music Albums: Developing Descriptive Writing (Virtual Tour)
Gathering Place: Promoting Independent Reading and Comprehension Strategies (Virtual Tour)
Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives: Practicing Parts of Speech (Virtual Tour)
Map It!: Integrating Social Studies and Literacy (Virtual Tour)
Super Words: Expanding Vocabulary in Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
Word Banks: Supporting Spelling and Vocabulary Growth (Virtual Tour)
Instructional Terms: Helping Students Expand Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
New Words Game: Expanding Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Word Wall in the Upper Grades: Expanding Vocabulary and Spelling (Virtual Tour)
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
CAFÉ: Engaging Second Grade Students in Assessment and Instruction (Virtual Tour)
Word Work In The Second Grade: A Component of the Daily Five (Virtual Tour)
Simple Machines: Introducing Non-Fiction Text Features (Virtual Tour)
Expand Vocabulary Wall: Introducing New and Interesting Words (Virtual Tour)
Student Made Books: Promoting the Enjoyment of Writing (Virtual Tour)
Word Wall: Learning To Spell High Frequency Words in Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
Where in the World: Extending Understanding of Mapping Skills (Virtual Tour)
Fraction Friends: Developing Informative Writing (Virtual Tour)
Math Word Wall: Expanding Vocabulary in Third Grade (Virtual Tour)
Interactive Word Wall: Learning to Spell High Frequency Words in First and Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
Contractions Review: Promoting Meaningful Understanding of Writing Conventions
Word Finder Think-Marks: Promoting Vocabulary Growth
Balderdash!: Building Vocabulary by Studying Word Roots and Affixes
Semantic Web: Activating Prior Knowledge to Promote Understanding
Ambient Sounds: Inspiring Discussion and Vocabulary Learning
Action Words: Helping Students Understand Verbs
Treasure Bag Measurement: Integrating Literacy and Mathematics
Miss Nelson Is Missing!: Read-Aloud Activities to Build Vocabulary and Comprehension
How to Use CAFÉ : Involving Students in Building Essential Reading Skills
Making and Breaking Compound Words: Building Students' Word Knowledge
People, Places and Things: Understanding Nouns (Virtual Tour)
Word Wall and Star School Word List: Spelling High Frequency Words in First Grade (Virtual Tour)
Interactive Word Wall: Spelling High Frequency Words in First and Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
Tree Art: Understanding Possessive Nouns (Virtual Tour)
Math Flowers: Writing and Solving Word Problems (Virtual Tour)
The Literacy Umbrella: Understanding Figurative Language (Virtual Tour)
Double the Fun: Exploring Homonyms (Virtual Tour)
Word Study: Using Characters to Anchor Understanding of Words (Virtual Tour)
Vocabulary Vine: Understanding the Meaning of Words (Virtual Tour)
Extra Special Student: Using a Vocabulary Wheel to Ask Questions (Virtual Tour)
Healthy Me: Extending Understandings and Expanding Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Story Re-enactment: Promoting Comprehension with an Oral Retell (Virtual Tour)
Felt Board Retell: Promoting Comprehension with an Oral Retell (Virtual Tour)
Mystery Bag: Promoting Oral Language (Virtual Tour)
Supported Dramatic Play: Building Vocabulary and Oral Language in Kindergarten (Virtual Tour)
Puppets and Props: Building Oral Language by Retelling Familiar Stories (Virtual Tour)
Images and Words: Building Vocabulary Knowledge with Pictures (Virtual Tour)
Daily Read Alouds: Using Non-Fiction and Math Books in the Literacy Program (Virtual Tour)
Making it Real!: Using Sentence Strips with Pictures to Retell a Lived Experience (Virtual Tour)
Café Drama Center: Developing Language and Vocabulary Through Play (Virtual Tour)
Literacy in the Math Center: Introducing Math Concepts and Vocabulary with Literature (Virtual Tour)
Listening Center: Supporting Understanding with Props (Virtual Tour)
Sand Table and Flannel Board: Contexts for Retelling Stories (Virtual Tour)
Weather Mind Maps: Building Background Knowledge and Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Shared Reading of Big Books: Supporting Language Development and Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Over the Rainbow!: Integrating Vocabulary Development and Artwork based on the Colors of the Rainbow (Virtual Tour)
Dramatic Weather!: Motivating Oral Language, Vocabulary and Early Reading and Writing Through Dramatic Play (Virtual Tour)
Story Station: Building Language and Comprehension through Story Retell (Virtual Tour)
Storyline Online: Celebrity Read-Aloud Builds Motivation for Literacy (Virtual Tour)
Favorite Read Alouds: Building Motivation for Literacy, Oral Language and Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Favorite Books: Building Motivation for Literacy, Vocabulary and Oral Language (Virtual Tour)
Reading for Growth and Self-Reflection: A Unit of Study Based on the Novel Holes, by Louis Sachar (Virtual Tour)
Storyline Online: Building Motivation for Literacy with Celebrity Read Alouds (Virtual Tour)
Shared Reading: Supporting Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary using Big Books in the Classroom (Virtual Tour)
Morning Calendar and Weather: Supporting Oral Language and Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Content Word Walls: Learning to Spell High Frequency Words in Kindergarten (Virtual Tour)
Can You Read Me?: Building Spelling and Vocabulary (Virtual Tour)
Compare and Contrast: Promoting Conceptual Thinking in First Grade (Virtual Tour)
The Ginger Bread Boy: Developing Fluency and Expression (Virtual Tour)
Echo Reading, Cloze Reading, and Vocabulary Discussion: Practicing Reading Strategies (Virtual Tour)
Word Families: Building Skills in Letter-Sounds (Virtual Tour)
Say, Spell, Say: Practicing Spelling (Virtual Tour)
Five Senses Fun: Developing Beginning Descriptive Language
Five Senses Fun: Developing Beginning Descriptive Language
Look Closely!: Describing Similarities and Differences Between Objects
Haiku Poetry: Using Adjectives in Writing
How to Teach GO Charts: An Integrated Reading Comprehension Strategy
Mystery Bag: Developing Oral Language Skills in PreK/Kindergarten
Word Choice: Using Effective Verbs in Procedural Writing
Using the Sandbox for Pretend Play: Building Oral Language and More
Mystery Bag: Developing Oral Language Skills in First Grade
I'm Thinking of Something: Developing Listening Skills
Pizza Parlor: Building Oral Language and More
Auditory GO Chart: An Integrated Reading Comprehension Strategy in PreK
Theme-Based Pretend Play: Building Oral Language and More
Antonym Rap: Reviewing Words with Opposite Meanings
Ball Toss Questioning: Reviewing Vocabulary Words Through a Game
Dramatic Vocabulary: Introducing Action Words
The Drama Center: Building Oral Language and More
Feeling Angry Song: Building Listening, Language and Vocabulary
Days and Months: Building Oral Vocabulary through Song
Go Chart Booklets: Understanding Story Elements in Second Grade
Retelling Glove: The Five Elements of a Good Story Retell
Close Reading: Applying a 3-Step Reading Comprehension Strategy (Virtual Tour)
Literacy in Science: Expanding Vocabulary in the Content Areas (Virtual Tour)
FACE of a Reader: Teaching Reading Strategies Based on The CAFE Menu (Virtual Tour)
Super Words: Expanding Vocabulary in Classroom Reading and Writing (Virtual Tour)
Cross-Curricular Word Wall: Expanding Vocabulary and Spelling in the Content Areas (Virtual Tour)
Literacy in Mathematics: Building Math Vocabulary and Word Problem Strategies (Virtual Tour)
Literacy CAFE in First Grade: Fostering Independence using a Menu of Strategies (Virtual Tour)
Sharing Storybooks: Building Knowledge and Literacy Motivation through Daily Read Alouds (Virtual Tour)
Cross-Curricular Classroom Library: Making Different Genres Accessible to Interest and Inspire Readers (Virtual Tour)
Word Family Wall: Building Literacy Skills using Spelling Patterns in Words (Virtual Tour)
The E in The CAFE: Expanding Vocabulary through Reading and Writing (Virtual Tour)
Global Partners Junior DETAILS: Implementing a Cross-Curricular Program (Virtual Tour)
Novel Study Using Teacher Read-Aloud: Building Literacy Skills in Engaging Integrated Unit (Virtual Tour)
An Engaging Read-Aloud makes Science Fun!: Linking Literacy and Science with Stanley's Party (Virtual Tour)
Research on Sustainability in Schools: Integrating Literacy, Social Studies, Science, Math (Virtual Tour)
Minds-On Math: Three-Part Lesson for Teaching Measurement (Virtual Tour)
Figurative Language and Poetic Devices: Teaching Poetry thru an Engaging Multi-Step Unit (Virtual Tour)
Elements and Principles of Design: Using Language to Create Visual Art (Virtual Tour)
Math Investigation Station: Integrating Math, Vocabulary and Media Literacy (Virtual Tour)
Building Community with Parents: Math Is Fun (Virtual Tour)
Cross-Curricular Connections: The Science of Bean Growing (Virtual Tour)
Math Wall: Building Understanding of Specialized Words (Virtual Tour)
Procedure Match Up: Building the Foundation for Procedural Writing
