Why is addressing vocabulary so important? 
  • Vocabulary is the largest determinant of comprehension of language.
  • By Kindergarten, the number of words known orally is the strongest predictor of children’s reading comprehension when they reach the upper elementary grades (Scarborough, 2001).
  • “Vocabulary knowledge is necessary for effective listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and a student’s ability to acquire new vocabulary is an important contributor to academic success" (Sweeny & Mason, 2011).
  • After grade 2, most children can and should acquire new vocabulary from the books they read. 
Who might need explicit language instruction? 
  • Heart and Risley (1995) vocabulary and social economic status (SES)/language input: by 5 years of age, there is the potential for a 30 million word gap to develop between children from the wealthiest and poorest families.
  • English language learners
  • Student who do not read at grade level
  • Students with Disabilities: Receptive & Expressive Language Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Intellectual Disability, Processing Disorder
  • Children with multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
  • Students with frequent absences
What can you do with technology (low and high tech)?
  • Augment with Images
    • Allows for understanding with eyes and ears (redundant)
    • Images are less fleeting then words presented auditory
    • Images may be easier to "decode" or access then written words initially
    • Images may assist students in connecting new words/concepts to background knowledge
  • Word Studies
  • Word games
  • Word Clouds/Banks
  • Digital Text
    • Add images
    • Hyperlink (dictionaries/visuals/additional text/videos, etc.)
    • Highlight (main idea, supporting details, important look fors, new vocabulary, etc.)
    • Bold
    • Italicize
    • Increase/decrease font
    • Embed metacognitive hints (Example: "How does this relate to the viseo we watched in class?")
    • Embed chapter summary/readingcomprehension questions closer to the sourse of the information 
    • Cognitive rescaling
  • READ! (Read more!  This is one of the best ways to improve vocabulary!)
We read with our eyes
We read with our fingers
We can read with our ears
  *Only changes the standard if the standard is related to decoding or fluency