Some of our favorite resources and references:
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The Vocabulary Book by Michael Graves
This extensively revised and expanded edition of the bestselling text and teaching resource incorporates the newest research in vocabulary learning and instruction into a complete and balanced program for all K–12 students, from those who struggle in school to those who excel. Literacy expert Michael Graves presents a four-pronged vocabulary program that he has developed and honed for over 30 years. Find it here.
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Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction by Beck, McKeown & Kucan
Grounded in research, the book explains how to select words for instruction, introduce their meanings, and create engaging learning activities that promote both word knowledge and reading comprehension. The authors are trusted experts who draw on extensive experience in diverse classrooms and schools. Find it here.
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No More ‘Look Up the List’ Vocabulary Instruction by Cobb & Blachowicz
No More “Look Up the List” Vocabulary Instruction is your guide to engaging, research-proven practices for teaching words effectively. Practitioner Charlene Cobb and researcher Camille Blachowicz share why old-fashioned methods don’t work, what the research shows does work, and how to put the research into action. Find it here.
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Teaching Words and How They Work: Small Changes for Big Vocabulary Results by Elfrieda H. Hiebert
This book, written by an award-winning authority on reading instruction, shows teachers how to make small changes to teach more words and also how words work. Many of these small changes involve enrichments to existing vocabulary practices, such as word walls and conversations with students. Find it here.
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A Teacher’s Guide to Vocabulary Development Across the Day by Tanya S. Wright
You probably know that having young children memorize new words or relegating vocabulary instruction to one time of day is not the way to go, but you may not know what else to do to support students’ vocabulary development. In this guide, Tanya Wright shows you how to make word learning more meaningful and engaging as you incorporate teaching about words across the day. Find it here.
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The Vocabulary Playbook: Learning Words That Matter by Fisher & Frey
Concepts, conversation, collaboration―vocabulary instruction is so much more than lists of words. More is more when it comes to students’ vocabulary knowledge, and in The Vocabulary Playbook, educators in K-12 get ideas for transforming all children into curious, capable word learners. The key? Put away the word-list mindset, and embrace active modeling, peer work, and independent practice. Find it here.