Close up of middle school students' hands working on science vocabulary study

Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the words we must know to communicate effectively. In school terms, it can be described as oral vocabulary or reading vocabulary. This section provides information about effective vocabulary instruction and the relationship between vocabulary and comprehension.

Latina student in high school class

Featured Article

Linking the Language: A Cross-Disciplinary Vocabulary Approach

A strategy for vocabulary instruction that involves introducing new vocabulary in related clusters. This approach can help diverse learners — including English language learners — make important vocabulary connections.

Videos

Understanding craft and structure
An 11th grade history teacher has her students read closely to analyze the text from Lincoln’s Inaugural Address in an effort to understand what can be learned by studying specific words and phrases.

Identifying key ideas and supporting details
A 6th grade history teacher introduces a reading on Ancient Egypt. Watch how she models taking notes on challenging vocabulary words and concepts. 

Classroom Strategies

Articles

High school student struggling with reading

About Teaching Reading

When Older Students Can’t Read

When a student’s reading comprehension is more impaired than their listening comprehension, inaccurate and slow word recognition is the most likely cause. 

Two middle school students working at white board

Vocabulary

Explicit Vocabulary Instruction

Vocabulary instruction is an important part of English language arts classes, as well as content area classes such as science and social studies.

two middle school students reading a class text together

Vocabulary

Root Words, Roots and Affixes

Familiarity with Greek and Latin roots, as well as prefixes and suffixes, can help students understand the meaning of new words. This article includes many of the most common examples.

Blog Posts

Blog: Shanahan on Literacy

Does Close Reading Reject the Science of Reading?

I want kids to be close readers … I think teachers should strive to accomplish the standards their states have established. But take a gimlet-eyed look at what it is that you are teaching. Is it really close reading?

Blog: Shanahan on Literacy

Vocabulary Teaching

Vocabulary learning is incremental and there are more words that kids need to learn than we can teach. Kids need lots of opportunities to confront words in their reading and listening.

Research, Reports & Guides

What Is Disciplinary Literacy and Why Does It Matter?
Teaching Disciplinary Literacy to Adolescents: Rethinking Content-Area Literacy
Summary of 20 years of research on the effectiveness of adolescent literacy programs and practices

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