This New Year, get back to basics with a refresher on the 5 Big Ideas of Beginning Reading. This month we’re highlighting vocabulary. Vocabulary is knowing what words mean and how to say and use them correctly. Vocabulary is an important part of school success and is also important for making reading comprehension possible.

What is Vocabulary?

Vocabulary is the glue that holds stories, ideas, and content together to make reading comprehension possible. Students are dependent on vocabulary knowledge so they understand the meanings of words that teachers use and can learn the meanings of new words.

There are four types of vocabulary:

Listening Vocabulary – the words that we hear in spoken language.
Speaking Vocabulary – the words that we use when we speak.
Reading Vocabulary – the words that we read.
Writing Vocabulary – the words that we use when writing.

What Should Vocabulary Instruction Look Like?

Attributes of good vocabulary instruction include:

Active student engagement
Definitional and contextual information
Sufficient instructional time to ensure understanding of words
Multiple exposures to words

Teach Vocabulary Directly and Indirectly

Direct vocabulary instruction includes:

Active student engagement in rich contexts
Explicit instruction through read-alouds and by discussing words for younger students and striving readers
Reading aloud from rich texts, using elaborate language, and having fun with language to increase students' word consciousness
Teaching meanings of specific words with repetition and multiple exposures
Teaching independent word-learning strategies and word meanings when reading with fluent readers and older students
Checks for understanding