This is taken from Reading A-Z
Vocabulary is one of the 5 pillars of reading comprehension as set forth in No Child Left Behind. Reading comprehension depends upon the meaning readers give words. The more vocabulary words students know, the better they are able to comprehend. A large vocabulary opens students up to a wider range of reading materials. A rich vocabulary also improves students’ ability to communicate through speaking, listening, and writing.
Researchers have stated that vocabulary deficiencies are a primary cause of academic failure in grades 3 through 12 (Baumann & Kameenui, 1991; Stanovich, 1986; Becker, 1977). These researchers profess that direct and explicit instruction of a set number of vocabulary words will improve academic success in all content areas. Stahl and Fairbanks (1986) suggest that teaching students 350 words each year may improve learning by as much as 10 to 30%. Further, in 1982, Beck, Perfetti, and McKeown found that students who were given direct instruction in word meanings were better able to discern the meanings of untaught words than control subjects.
Though no particular method for teaching vocabulary has been identified as best (Beck & McKeown, 1991), a number of instructional strategies such as identifying synonyms and antonyms, providing examples and nonexamples, and relating words to one’s own life, have yielded growth in students’ vocabulary. For these reasons, Reading A-Z provides a number of different resources for teachers to use to enrich their students’ vocabulary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With that being said, my primary focus with all Non English Speakers is VOCABULARY! We work on it for 45 minutes each day. Please check back weekly for a list of the vocabulary words we are focusing on each week!
Click below for the lists of words we are learning:
September 7-11 School Words
September 14-18 More school words
September 21-25 Colors and Shapes
September 28-October 2 Family, Letters, and numbers
Monday, September 21, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
