A study to investigate the effect of a visual-verbal method versus a traditional dictionary method to teaching vocabulary development involved 44 students in seventh grade literature classes. A review of the literature indicated a need for quality vocabulary instruction that could offer students more creative, diverse methods to increase their…

STATUS STUDIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOCABULARY SIZE AND THE EXTENT OF READING SUPPORT THE BELIEF THAT MORE AVID READERS HAVE RICHER VOCABULARIES. HOWEVER, STUDIES OF DIRECT EFFORTS TO INCREASE VOCABULARY THROUGH WIDE READING ALONE HAVE NOT YIELDED SATISFACTORY RESULTS. HENCE, WIDE READING COMBINED WITH DIRECT AND INDIRECT APPROACHES IS…

Bibliographical information is provided for 50 studies of the teaching of vocabulary. The students involved, length of instruction, methods of instruction, evaluation instruments, and findings are briefly listed. (AA)

Describes the Spoken Words Vocabulary Activity. Recommends ways to implement this activity in class and shows how to use it to teach students traditional strategies for determining word meanings. (RBW)

Reviews research indicating that presenting vocabulary in semantically related clusters may improve students' vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension. Describes how words from elementary school textbooks were divided into semantic clusters and makes suggestions for their use. (FL)

Outlines procedures by which teachers can foster and speed up student vocabulary growth. Discusses three aspects of categorization: word fluency, the list-group-label lesson, and feature analysis. (RL)

Shows how one teacher develops student vocabulary and spelling skills as part of the writing process. (RL)

Explains how high-level play is an instructional strategy that builds language, vocabulary, and underlying cognitive skills necessary for children to become successful readers and writers. Notes that high-level play in the classroom occurs in two major areas, manipulative materials play and dramatic play. Explains that in dramatic play the teacher…

Connects knowledge about good vocabulary instructional practices and actual practice through information, guidelines, and specific strategies. Details the strategies of semantic feature analyses; word maps; individual vocabulary cards; word webs; context-relationship procedure; the Frayer model; and word analogies. Concludes there needs to be…

Broadens some of the techniques that assist teachers in the direct instruction of vocabulary development. Presents strategies that experienced teachers have used but may have forgotten. Encourages teachers to take a new refreshing look at vocabulary skills that can assist teachers in developing a balanced reading program as they foster vocabulary…

When a child has an extensive knowledge of vocabulary, it is most likely from extensive reading, regardless of whether the reading is from comic books, magazines, or a recommended reading literature list. Teachers who are always trying to find the best strategies for teaching literacy skills such as reading comprehension, vocabulary development,…

The enjoyment of literature, as well as that of any other human endeavor, requires readiness. The literature teacher has two responsibilities--to discover the student's previous literary experiences, and to be thoroughly familiar with the problems involved in the development of literary appreciation in a second language. Assuming that the reader…

Documents a model that resulted from an analysis of context clues to determine which were amenable to instruction and what pedagogical approach should be used. (DD)

Discusses the value of using the mother tongue in second language learning as a way of communicating meaning. (Author/HP)