This action research project investigated 2 different instructional procedures used for third grade students' vocabulary acquisition. We researched read-aloud trade books containing targeted vocabulary words with daily direct word learning strategies and compared that to a traditional definitional approach with 12 bilingual and 4 monolingual…

Instructional design is an integral part of a balanced approach to teaching vocabulary instruction. The goal of this paper is to reflect on several lessons using research-based vocabulary strategies, and to present think-alouds that detail the steps in matching instructional design with those strategies in order to reach the learning outcome.…

Presents a discussion by dedicated teachers (who were taking a university course for reading assessment and diagnosis) about students' problems with vocabulary words that impede successful reading comprehension. Discusses how the interactive process of developing the strategies pushed the teachers' imaginations and created a challenge for the…

Reports a one-year study in a fourth-grade classroom to help students become able readers and instill in them a desire to read. States that the reading program included silent reading, choices of reading materials, sharing of literature, and appropriate adult modeling. Reports increases in reading rates, comprehension, vocabulary, and amount of…

Describes an approach to spelling--word class--that combines a self-selected approach to spelling instruction and thinking skills. Suggests that this approach helps students become more sensitive to letter patterns and word parts, adds depth and dimension to their vocabulary, teaches thinking skills, creates more authentic thinking and writing…

Studies the effectiveness of weekly vocabulary studies on students' proficiency in using contextual analysis and students' attitudes toward words and word learning. Finds that students made a significantly greater improvement in their ability to use contextual analysis than did students in a comparison group. Notes a slight increase in student…

Demonstrates how alphabet books for upper elementary and middle school readers may be incorporated in instruction. Shares titles of alphabet books for older readers and activities for applying these books in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary, self-interest, research, and poetry. (RS)

Consists of transcripts of self-help tapes, numbers three and four in a series on vocabulary improvement, dealing with prefixes and roots. (JM)

Discusses problems that students encounter in reading content area textbooks; presents learning activities in the areas of word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension, and study skills. (MAI)

Outlines reading activities that can be correlated with children's literature; focuses on the development of vocabulary, syntactic, and graphophonic skills. (MAI)

Describes the components of a reading program for deaf children that is characterized by systematic and carefully planned increments of instruction, intensive review and reinforcement, and the use of materials that control the semantic and syntactic features of language. (MAI)

Begins a four-part series dealing with practical suggestions for improving the vocabularies of high school students. (Author/RB)

Explains how to compile vocabulary lists from a representative sample of technical vocabulary in a particular content area, and how to use the lists to assess student vocabulary needs. (GW)

Examines five types of vocabulary possessed by all learners and outlines methods for helping students build overall vocabulary abilities. (GW)