Describes semantic mapping, an effective strategy for vocabulary instruction that involves the categorical structuring of information in graphic form and requires students to relate new words to their own experience and prior knowledge. (HOD)

Two groups of disabled readers, ages 8 and 11, were tested. Perceptual abilities related more strongly for younger students, while intelligence related more strongly for older students. Questions are raised about the validity of using expectancy formulae with younger disabled readers and the "learning disabilities" approach with older disabled…

Compares the lexical proficiency of 69 grade 6 immersion students with that of 22 native French-speaking peers, based on verb use and in 5 written compositions. Measures of lexical error, variety, specificity, and sophistication show clear differences between the two groups. (33 references) (Author/VWL)

Examines some problems and techniques for teaching prefixes and suffixes at the middle elementary level. States that fewer affixes should be taught, while emphasizing the application of affix knowledge to unfamiliar words. Lists the most common prefixes and suffixes in printed school English for grades three to nine. (MM)

Use of the Dynamic Assessment Procedure (DAP) to identify gifted students was investigated with 19 gifted and 20 average students (ages 9 through 15). Assessment, using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, of the highest receptive vocabulary level a child could achieve with adult mediation supported the DAP paradigm of…

Investigates the relationship between the relative difficulty of passages and the number of unknown words in passages. Finds little support for the theory that free reading results in large vocabulary growth. Calls into question the practice of devoting large amounts of classroom time to free reading if the purpose is to increase vocabulary or…

This study examined the receptive vocabulary of 102 first-, third-, and sixth-grade Spanish/English bilingual students of Hispanic origin. It found that, although students in all three grade levels functioned comparably well on the Spanish instruments, performance on the English instruments increased with grade level. (41 references) (MDM)

Provides three vocabulary strategies that provide practical activities to improve the content area vocabulary and reading skills of students. Offers these strategies as an integrative means for implementation of content material to teach students essential vocabulary. (MG)

Reviews research concerning the preteaching of content area vocabulary. Questions the value of solely preteaching content terms and suggests teaching both general and content vocabulary in ways that aid students in becoming independent word learners. (MG)

Independent reading can serve as a practical context for linking vocabulary and comprehension and is a feasible strategy that complements other instructional approaches while it expands word knowledge in a naturalistic setting. Teachers should serve as reading models while students engage in silent reading, but teachers should also be cautious…

To determine if measures of the frequency of English root words can serve as reliable predictors of knowledge of those words, a 98-item multiple choice vocabulary test, in which all of the items were English root words, was administered to 46 third graders and 45 fourth graders. The percentage of correct responses for the words was correlated with…

The use of context clues is basic to the reading act. This paper emphasizes the importance of teaching students to recognize context clues and outlines reasons for teachers' frequent failure to do so. It then suggests ways of helping students become aware of ways context clues can be of value to them as readers and of teaching them to identify…

Three elementary social studies texts were examined to determine extent of technical vocabulary and comprehension difficulty. Results of cloze and multiple-choice tests based on reading passages indicated that Mexican-American children had more difficulty than others comprehending the textbook material. (Author/AV)

Presents ten opportunities for using comic books in the exercise of oral, listening, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. (DD)

Forms L and M of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were administered to severely hearing-impaired 4- to 14-year-olds (N=102) to obtain test norms for hearing-impaired children. Mean scores for these subjects were lower than those of normally-hearing peers, illustrating differences of rates of vocabulary acquisition between hearing-impaired and…