Community college developmental education students face numerous obstacles as they proceed through their years of higher education. One specific area of need is students' inadequate vocabularies. Advanced communication skills are an integral part of higher education, so students may be at an academic disadvantage if these skills are not well-developed. Developmental students' weak vocabularies compound the other challenges they face. The purpose of this article is to present theoretical frameworks and research perspectives concerning vocabulary instruction with developmental students in order to encourage educators to continue examining this area as a critical component of developmental instruction. Additionally, studies exploring successful strategies for vocabulary growth are presented for educators looking for ways to effectively integrate vocabulary instruction into college developmental reading classes.