ABCs of Reading
Professional Book Recommendations
Nourishing Vocabulary
Balancing Words and Learning
by
Shira Lubliner and
Judith A. Scott
Nurture children's intellectual growth with rich language experiences!
All children need a strong verbal foundation in order to participate fully in school experiences. Aligned with findings from the National Reading Panel Report, Nourishing Vocabulary emphasizes the importance of supporting students' academic development with targeted vocabulary instruction that includes a wide range of language forms and words.
The authors provide sound theory and practical techniques to help teachers bridge the achievement gap by strengthening vocabulary, deepening literacy skills, and raising performance levels for all children. This rich resource includes a wealth of specific strategies for:
- Vocabulary acquisition
- Read-alouds and independent reading
- Decoding unknown words
- Helping students distinguish between language patterns at home and at school
When fully explored, a literacy program focused on vocabulary building, problem solving strategies, word consciousness, and an appreciation for oral language can result in meaningful, complex learning experiences that contribute to students' academic and real-world success.
Word Play
Building Vocabulary Across Texts and Disciplines, Grades 6-12
by Sandra R Whitaker
Vocabulary is key—to comprehension, to deep academic understanding, to communication. But with so many words and so little instructional time, how can teachers ensure that students do more than merely memorize word lists? That they make words their own and use them well in all their reading, writing, and speaking activities? In Word Play, Sandra Whitaker, a National Board Certified Teacher, leads the way to effective, meaningful vocabulary instruction that helps students in every subject area.
With Word Play you’ll teach so that students don’t just what know what words mean, but how they convey meaning and what their appropriate uses are. Three aspects of learning must work together for successful vocabulary instruction, and Whitaker details what they are and how to teach them:
- Morphemic structure—where words come from, how they are formed, and how they can be changed to form new words
- Conceptual meaning makers—the small but important group of context-specific terms that support meaning making within assigned texts but are rarely used outside those texts
- Academic vocabulary—cross-discipline and discipline-specific words that support learning by helping students determine meanings in relation to the subjects they study and use precise language to communicate their thinking.
Whitaker makes the theoretical practical, presenting the theory and research behind high-quality instruction, then following up with engaging, interesting ways for students to practice all three aspects of vocabulary. You’ll replace monotonous memorization with enjoyable activities that capitalize on adolescents’ natural interest in words and language. Illustrating her strategies with student samples and stories from real classrooms, Whitaker even presents ideas for differentiation that make vocabulary instruction accessible for all students.
Give the gift of language. Put away the boring word lists and teach in ways that promote usage, not memorization. You’ll encourage a deeper understanding of texts across the curriculum and provide avenues for students to express their thinking more precisely. Put joy into words with Word Play.
Professional Book Resources
Looking for professional books for your own interests or professional development? Check out these sites for information on the latest in research and implemenation in the realm of literacy and content area instruction.
Corwin Press
http://www.corwinpress.com/
Heinemann
http://www.heinemann.com/
International Reading Association Publications
http://www.reading.org/publications/index.html
Scholastic Professional
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/
Stenhouse Books and Videos
http://www.stenhouse.com/
Table of Contents
About the Literacy Newsletter
FOR-PD's Literacy newsletter deals specifically with literacy and learning for K-12 teachers of Florida's public schools. As you read and review our newsletter you will find information on local, state, and federal literacy news, upcoming conferences, celebrations, sources of funding, resources on the World Wide Web, and resources you can use with your students. The participant section answers pertinent questions participants have about the course and provides helpful tips for successful completion. We hope that this newsletter will provide educators with useful information to support their literacy development and the work they do with Florida students.
We welcome your feedback on how we can better support you and help you grow professionally. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.
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Last Updated:
April 10, 2008
