3 good reasons to make daily vocabulary
instruction a part of your middle years classroom...
instruction a part of your middle years classroom...
Vocabulary Instruction Increases Reading Comprehension!
Many research studies have established the links between vocabulary growth and increased reading comprehension (e.g. Hirsch, 2003; McKeown, Beck, Ormanson & Perfetti, 1983;). Evidence also shows that, without intervention, differences in vocabulary knowledge in the early years persist and widen as school continues. Stanovich (1986) terms this “the Matthew effect,” which arises due to the reciprocal nature of vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Those with better developed vocabularies read more, which further broadens vocabulary, builds fluency and better reading skills. The reverse phenomena explains why the deficit widens over time for struggling readers.
Vocabulary in the Middle & Upper Years is Critical!
Vocabulary instruction is particularly important in the middle years of schooling, when texts becomes more complex and knowledge of academic vocabulary becomes critical to performance across all areas (Lawrence, White & Snow, 2010).
Students with a vocabulary deficit and resultant reading difficulties can thus be negatively impacted across all subject areas.
Daily Explicit Instruction Works!
Research shows that daily explicit instruction has positive impacts on vocabulary growth and reading comprehension for all learners (McKeown et al, 1983), including struggling readers and EAL students. Recent studies (Biemiller & Boote, 2006; Lesaux, Kieffer, Falley and Kelley, 2010; Lawrence, White and Snow, 2010) have conducted interventions using explicit teaching of vocabulary that have resulted in positive gains in reading comprehension for struggling readers and EAL learners, thereby demonstrating that explicit vocabulary instruction can help to address a vocabulary deficit and improve reading skills.
Many research studies have established the links between vocabulary growth and increased reading comprehension (e.g. Hirsch, 2003; McKeown, Beck, Ormanson & Perfetti, 1983;). Evidence also shows that, without intervention, differences in vocabulary knowledge in the early years persist and widen as school continues. Stanovich (1986) terms this “the Matthew effect,” which arises due to the reciprocal nature of vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Those with better developed vocabularies read more, which further broadens vocabulary, builds fluency and better reading skills. The reverse phenomena explains why the deficit widens over time for struggling readers.
Vocabulary in the Middle & Upper Years is Critical!
Vocabulary instruction is particularly important in the middle years of schooling, when texts becomes more complex and knowledge of academic vocabulary becomes critical to performance across all areas (Lawrence, White & Snow, 2010).
Students with a vocabulary deficit and resultant reading difficulties can thus be negatively impacted across all subject areas.
Daily Explicit Instruction Works!
Research shows that daily explicit instruction has positive impacts on vocabulary growth and reading comprehension for all learners (McKeown et al, 1983), including struggling readers and EAL students. Recent studies (Biemiller & Boote, 2006; Lesaux, Kieffer, Falley and Kelley, 2010; Lawrence, White and Snow, 2010) have conducted interventions using explicit teaching of vocabulary that have resulted in positive gains in reading comprehension for struggling readers and EAL learners, thereby demonstrating that explicit vocabulary instruction can help to address a vocabulary deficit and improve reading skills.
So we know that teaching vocabulary is important, but how do we make it part of the daily routine?
With the pressures of first-year practice, managing your own cohort for the first time, and meeting curriculum requirements, this may not seem like an easy task!
With the pressures of first-year practice, managing your own cohort for the first time, and meeting curriculum requirements, this may not seem like an easy task!
At Vocab Central, we aim to show you how to include explicit vocabulary instruction within your
own daily teaching routine. We outline a weekly cycle of short instructional routines (based on best
practice methods), which can be easily integrated into your daily literacy block.
With our additional suggestions on simple ways to foster genuine interest and an awareness of words
among your students, you can help develop better readers.
own daily teaching routine. We outline a weekly cycle of short instructional routines (based on best
practice methods), which can be easily integrated into your daily literacy block.
With our additional suggestions on simple ways to foster genuine interest and an awareness of words
among your students, you can help develop better readers.