Vocabulary Studies: Summarized, Reviewed, Critiqued, and Offered in an Historical Perspective
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Teaching Vocabulary Across the Curriculum
Teaching Vocabulary Across the Curriculum William P. Bintz Learning vocabulary is an important instructional aim learning vocabulary. This research clearly indicates for teachers in all content areas in middle grades schools that enlargement of vocabulary has always been and (Harmon, Wood, & Kiser, 2009). Recent research, however, continues to be an important goal in literacy and indicates that vocabulary instruction may be problematic learning (National Institute of Child Health and Human because many teachers are not “confident about best Development, 2004). Educators have long recognized practice in vocabulary instruction and at times don’t know the importance of vocabulary development. In the early where to begin to form an instructional emphasis on word 20th century, John Dewey (1910) stated that vocabulary is learning” (Berne & Blachowicz, 2008, p. 315). critically important because a word is an instrument for In this article, I summarize important research on thinking about the meanings which it expresses. Since vocabulary growth and development and share effective then, there has been an “ebb and flow of concern for instructional strategies that middle school teachers vocabulary” (Manzo, Manzo, & Thomas, 2006, p. 612; can use to teach vocabulary across the content areas. see also Blachowicz & Fisher, 2000). At times, interest in My hope is that teachers will use these strategies to vocabulary has been high and intense, and at other times help students become verbophiles—“people who enjoy low and neglected, alternating back and forth over time word study and become language enthusiasts, lovers of (Berne & Blachowicz, 2008). words, appreciative readers, and word-conscious writers” (Mountain, 2002, p. 62). Research on vocabulary growth and development The importance of vocabulary Vocabulary has long been an important topic in middle Vocabulary can be defined as “the words we must grades education, but today it could be considered a know to communicate effectively: words in speaking hot topic (Cassidy & Cassidy, 2003/2004). -
Reading Disabilities: Why Do Some Children Have Difficulty Learning to Read? What Can Be Done About It? by G
Reading Disabilities: Why Do Some Children Have Difficulty Learning to Read? What Can Be Done About It? by G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D. The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) considers that teaching and learning in today’s schools reflect not only significant educational concerns, but public health concerns as well. Our research has consistently shown that if children do not learn to understand and use language, to read and write, to calculate and reason mathematically, to solve problems, and to communicate their ideas and perspectives, their opportunities for a fulfilling and rewarding life are seriously compromised. Specifically, in our NICHD-supported longitudinal studies, we have learned that school failure has devastating consequences with respect to self-esteem, social development, and opportunities for advanced education and meaningful employment. Nowhere are these consequences more apparent than when children fail to learn to read. Why? Simply stated, the development of reading skills serves as THE major foundational academic ability for all school-based learning. Without the ability to read, the opportunities for academic and occupational success are limited. Moreover, because of its importance, difficulty in learning to read crushes the excitement and love for learning, which most children have when they enter school. As we follow thousands of children with reading difficulties throughout school and into adulthood, these young people tell us how embarrassing and devastating it was to read with difficulty in front of peers and teachers, and to demonstrate this weakness on a daily basis. It is clear from our NICHD research that this type of failure affects children negatively earlier than we thought. -
Bridge of Vocabulary: Evidence Based Activities for Academic Success (NCS Pearson Inc, 2007)
The following information was based on information from Judy K. Montgomery’s book: The Bridge of Vocabulary: Evidence Based Activities for Academic Success (NCS Pearson Inc, 2007) There are 4 types of vocabulary: □ Listening □ Speaking □ Reading Writing The first two constitute spoken vocabulary and the last two, written vocabulary. Children begin to acquire listening and speaking vocabularies many years before they start to build reading and writing vocabularies. Spoken language forms the basis for written language. Each type has a different purpose and, luckily, vocabulary development in one type facilitates growth in another. Listening Vocabulary: The words we hear and understand. Starting in the womb, fetuses can detect sounds as early as 16 weeks. Furthermore, babies are listening during all their waking hours – and we continue to learn new words this way all of our lives. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us will recognize and understand close to 50,000 words. (Stahl, 1999; Tompkins, 2005) Children who are completely deaf do not get exposed to a listening vocabulary. Instead, if they have signing models at home or school, they will be exposed to a “visual” listening vocabulary. The amount of words modeled is much less than a hearing child’s incidental listening vocabulary. Speaking Vocabulary: The words we use when we speak. Our speaking vocabulary is relatively limited: Most adults use a mere 5,000 to 10,000 words for all their conversations and instructions. This number is much less than our listening vocabulary most likely due to ease of use. Reading Vocabulary: The words we understand when we read text. -
1.4 Vocabulary: Best Advice Learning Improvement
1.4 | BEST ADVICE | LEADING LEARNING IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT The size of vocabulary, that is, the number and variety of words that children know in the preschool and initial years of schooling, is a significant predictor of reading comprehension in the middle and secondary years of schooling and of broader academic and vocational success. Vocabulary Deslea Konza, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education and Arts, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia ‘The more words you know, the more clearly and powerfully you will think...and the more ideas you will invite into your mind’ (Wilfred Funk, 1986, p.2). Vocabulary knowledge is complex Why vocabulary matters What it means to ‘know’ a word is not a simple notion. We know that vocabulary is critical to success in Word learning is incremental: that is, understanding a reading and in broader academic achievement. The word is usually partial at first, and grows with repeated size of vocabulary, that is, the number and variety of exposures. Dale & O’Rourke (1986) conceptualised word words that children know in the preschool and initial years of schooling, is a significant predictor of reading learning as being along a continuum, ranging from never comprehension in the middle and secondary years of having seen or heard the word before, to having a deep schooling and of broader academic and vocational knowledge of the word and its different meanings, as well success (Biemiller, 1999; NICHD 2000; Scarborough, 2001; as the ability to use the word confidently and accurately Varlas, 2012). in speaking and writing contexts. Almost all children are experienced users of language Words themselves differ on many dimensions. -
The Synthetic Phonics Teaching Principles June 2015
The Synthetic Phonics Teaching Principles June 2015 Teach the relationship between sounds and letters by systematically introducing the letter/s-sound correspondences of the English alphabetic code (e.g. between three and five correspondences per week at first, including vowels and consonants). Start with mainly one spelling for each of the 42+ sounds (phonemes) identifiable in English speech before broadening out to focus on further spelling and pronunciation variations. (Initial teaching takes 2 to 3 years to teach a comprehensive level of alphabetic code; continue to build on this as required for phonics for spelling.) Model how to put the letter/s-sound correspondences introduced (the alphabetic code knowledge) to immediate use teaching the three skills of: Reading/decoding: synthesise (sound out and blend) all-through-the-printed-word to ‘hear’ the target word. Modify the pronunciation of the word where necessary. Spelling/encoding: orally segment (split up) all-through-the-spoken-word to identify the single sounds (phonemes) and know which letters and letter groups (graphemes) are code for the identified sounds. Handwriting: write the lower case, then the upper case, letters of the alphabet correctly. Hold the pencil with a tripod grip. Practise regular dictation exercises from letter level to text level (as appropriate). Provide cumulative, decodable words, sentences and texts which match the level of alphabetic code knowledge and blending skills taught to date, when asking the learner to read independently. Emphasise letter sounds at first and not letter names. (Learn letter names in the first instance by chanting the alphabet or singing an alphabet song.) Do not teach an initial sight vocabulary where learners are expected to memorise words as whole shapes. -
Reading in the Twentieth Century. INSTITUTION Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement, Ann Arbor, MI
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 479 530 CS 512 338 AUTHOR Pearson, P. David TITLE Reading in the Twentieth Century. INSTITUTION Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement, Ann Arbor, MI. SPONS AGENCY Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2000-08-00 NOTE 46p.; CIERA Archive #01-08. CONTRACT R305R70004 AVAILABLE FROM CIERA/University of Michigan, 610 E. University Ave., 1600 SEB, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259. Tel: 734-647-6940; Fax: 734- 763 -1229. For full text: http://www.ciera.org/library/archive/ 2001-08/0108pdp.pdf. PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070). Reports Research (143) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Educational History; *Educational Practices; Futures (of Society); Instructional Materials; *Reading Instruction; *Reading Processes; *Reading Research; Reading Skills; Teaching Methods IDENTIFIERS *Reading Theories ABSTRACT This paper discusses reading instruction in the 20th century. The paper begins with a tour of the historical pathways that have led people, at the century's end, to the "rocky and highly contested terrain educators currently occupy in reading pedagogy." After the author/educator unfolds his version of a map of that terrain in the paper, he speculates about pedagogical journeys that lie ahead in a new century and a new millennium. Although the focus is reading pedagogy, the paper seeks to connect the pedagogy to the broader scholarly ideas of each period. According to the paper, developments in reading pedagogy over the last century suggest that it is most useful to divide the century into thirds, roughly 1900-1935, 1935- 1970, and 1970-2000. The paper states that, as a guide in constructing a map of past and present, a legend is needed, a common set of criteria for examining ideas and practices in each period--several candidates suggest themselves, such as the dominant materials used by teachers in each period and the dominant pedagogical practices. -
Effective Vocabulary Instruction by Joan Sedita
Published in “Insights on Learning Disabilities” 2(1) 33-45, 2005 Effective Vocabulary Instruction By Joan Sedita Why is vocabulary instruction important? Vocabulary is one of five core components of reading instruction that are essential to successfully teach children how to read. These core components include phonemic awareness, phonics and word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension (National Reading Panel, 2000). Vocabulary knowledge is important because it encompasses all the words we must know to access our background knowledge, express our ideas and communicate effectively, and learn about new concepts. “Vocabulary is the glue that holds stories, ideas and content together… making comprehension accessible for children.” (Rupley, Logan & Nichols, 1998/99). Students’ word knowledge is linked strongly to academic success because students who have large vocabularies can understand new ideas and concepts more quickly than students with limited vocabularies. The high correlation in the research literature of word knowledge with reading comprehension indicates that if students do not adequately and steadily grow their vocabulary knowledge, reading comprehension will be affected (Chall & Jacobs, 2003). There is a tremendous need for more vocabulary instruction at all grade levels by all teachers. The number of words that students need to learn is exceedingly large; on average students should add 2,000 to 3,000 new words a year to their reading vocabularies (Beck, McKeown & Kucan, 2002). For some categories of students, there are significant obstacles to developing sufficient vocabulary to be successful in school: • Students with limited or no knowledge of English. Literate English (English used in textbooks and printed material) is different from spoken or conversational English. -
Is Vocabulary a Strong Variable Predicting Reading Comprehension and Does the Prediction Degree of Vocabulary Vary According to Text Types
Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri • Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice - 11(3) • Summer • 1541-1547 ©2011 Eğitim Danışmanlığı ve Araştırmaları İletişim Hizmetleri Tic. Ltd. Şti. Is Vocabulary a Strong Variable Predicting Reading Comprehension and Does the Prediction Degree of Vocabulary Vary according to Text Types Kasım YILDIRIMa Mustafa YILDIZ Seyit ATEŞ Ahi Evran University Gazi University Gazi University Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore whether there was a significant correlation between vocabulary and re- ading comprehension in terms of text types as well as whether the vocabulary was a predictor of reading comp- rehension in terms of text types. In this regard, the correlational research design was used to explain specific research objectives. The study was conducted in Ankara-Sincan during the 2008-2009 academic years. A total of 120 students having middle socioeconomic status participated in this study. The students in this research were in the fifth-grade at a public school. Reading comprehension and vocabulary tests were developed to evaluate the students’ reading comprehension and vocabulary levels. Correlation and bivariate linear regression analy- ses were used to assess the data obtained from the study. The research findings indicated that there was a me- dium correlation between vocabulary and narrative text comprehension. In addition, there was a large correlati- on between vocabulary and expository text comprehension. Compared to the narrative text comprehension, vo- cabulary was also a strong predictor of expository text comprehension. Vocabulary made more contribution to expository text comprehension than narrative text comprehension. Key Words Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Text Types. Reading comprehension is defined as a complex Reader factor includes prior knowledge, linguistic process in which many skills are used (Cain, Oa- skill, and metacognitive awareness. -
Word Walls: a Support for Literacy in Secondary School Classrooms
Acknowledgements This resource has been made possible through the generous donations of private individuals, foundations and corporations who support The Curriculum Foundation, the charitable arm of Curriculum Services Canada. For more details please see www.curricululm.org and click on “Grants for Teachers.” Word Walls: A Support for Literacy in Secondary School Classrooms Introduction Each year students must learn and use thousands of new words in their various subject discipline studies. They are required to perform complex tasks using new vocabulary. The use of a word wall in a classroom can be a highly effective teaching strategy to improve literacy skills. Word wall activities encourage active student participation. Gestures, such as pointing to key words during a lesson, offer visual reinforcement which can be very helpful for students. Word wall activities engage students while they learn key vocabulary, whether it be learning to explain a word, to compare it to other key concepts, or to spell it. A word wall is a group of words that are displayed on a wall, bulletin board, chalkboard, or whiteboard in a classroom. The words are printed in a large font so that they are easily visible from all student seating areas. These words are referred to continually throughout a unit or term by the teacher and students during a variety of activities. Word walls: • provide an approach to meaningful teaching of vocabulary with an emphasis on student engagement and higher level thinking skills; • build vocabulary, thereby improving reading comprehension and writing style; • reinforce understanding of subject-specific terminology with a focus on students internalizing key concepts; • help students improve spelling and awareness of spelling patterns; • provide visual cues for students; • encourage increased student independence when reading and writing. -
A Note to Parents
This Wordbook contains all the A Note to sight words we will be studying throughout the year plus some additional enrichment words. Your child should spend some Parents time each week studying this Wordbook with an adult. The amount of time will vary according to the ability level of the individual child. The sight words are each followed by a sentence using the word. The sentence is to help your child figure out the word through the context of the sentence. The list we are currently studying will be marked with a paper clip. Here are some tips for studying the words 1. As you study the list, vary the order of the words. 2. If the child has difficulty reading the word, the adult can read the sentence saying “blank” in place of the underlined word. The child should be able to identify the key word through context and by seeing the beginning and ending letters of the word. 3. The student is not responsible for reading each sentence. I do, however, encourage those students who are able readers to read the sentence to help figure out the word or to read the sentence simply to practice reading. 4. This wordbook is a great tool to print and leave in your vehicle. SO on those long trips, or even short trips, someone in the car can help your child study without having to miss out on any of their play time. This Wordbook is meant to aid your child. It is used in conjunction with our reading and writing experiences. -
Effective Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
Effective Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities Nari Carter, PhD Instructional Designer Effective Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 1 Background Before the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was enacted in 1975, millions of children and adolescents with disabilities were receiving inappropriate education or were completely excluded from public schools. Legislators passed EAHCA to end discriminatory practices and to ensure students with disabilities were afforded public education. Central to the EACHA was the principle of free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. This act was later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004. Appropriate education has been defined in case law as instruction that enables students to benefit academically. Specifically, courts have ruled that appropriate instruction for students with disabilities is individualized instruction that permits students to achieve educational goals. To meet the instructional needs of students with disabilities, individualized education programs (IEPs) are crafted for each qualifying student. Although all students with disabilities are unique and students’ IEPs address their specific instructional needs, most students with mild to moderate disabilities experience significant difficulty learning to read. In fact, more than 60 percent of students with specific learning disabilities struggle learning to read (Strickland, Boon, & Spencer, 2013). Consequently, reading achievement -
Open a World of Possible: Real Stories About the Joy and Power of Reading © 2014 Scholastic 5 Foreword
PEN OA WORLD OF POssIBLE Real Stories About the Joy and Power of Reading Edited by Lois Bridges Foreword by Richard Robinson New York • Toronto • London • Auckland • Sydney Mexico City • New Delhi • Hong Kong • Buenos Aires DEDICATION For all children, and for all who love and inspire them— a world of possible awaits in the pages of a book. And for our beloved friend, Walter Dean Myers (1937–2014), who related reading to life itself: “Once I began to read, I began to exist.” b Credit for Charles M. Blow (p. 40): From The New York Times, January 23 © 2014 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without written permission is prohibited. Credit for Frank Bruni (p. 218): From The New York Times, May 13 © 2014 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without written permission is prohibited. Scholastic grants teachers permission to photocopy the reproducible pages from this book for classroom use. No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Cover Designer: Charles Kreloff Editor: Lois Bridges Copy/Production Editor: Danny Miller Interior Designer: Sarah Morrow Compilation © 2014 Scholastic Inc.