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Chapter 7: Expanding Academic Vocabulary
I: Overview
Knowledge of word meanings is a prerequisite for comprehension. In order for students to
comprehend a text and engage in discussion, they must understand the words contained in that
text. Chapter 7 discusses the use of word walls, context clues, and word study activities to help
students build their vocabularies and increase comprehension.
Chapter 7 Objectives
After reading chapter 7, students should be able to:
1 List ways in which students learn vocabulary words.
Chapter 7 Outline
Vignette: Mrs. Sanom’s Word Wizards Club
Introduction
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY
• Three Tiers of Words
WORD-STUDY CONCEPTS
• Multiple Meanings of Words
• Synonyms: Words With Similar Meanings
• Antonyms: Words That Mean the Opposite
TEACHING STUDENTS TO UNLOCK WORD MEANINGS
• Word Walls
• Explicit Instruction
• Word-Study Activities
II: Teaching Suggestions
Preview Questions
Use the questions below to initiate a conversation on vocabulary development.
1. Our vocabularies grow throughout our lives. How do you learn new words as an adult?
Focus Questions
Pre-service teachers should consider the following questions as they read chapter 7.
1. How do students learn vocabulary words?
2. What is the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading?
Class Activities
1. Word Study Activities Distribute novels appropriate for the elementary grades to your
college students. Divide the college students into 5 groups. Ask each group to prepare a word
study lesson based on the novels they were given. Groups should select from the following
activities:
• Word Posters
2. Context Clues Bring samples of children’s literature to the college classroom. Ask the
3. Idioms Children should be exposed to idioms to build their understanding of figurative
language. Bring books of idioms to the college classroom. Suggested titles include Put Your
After Class Activities
1. Word Maps Encourage the college students to visit elementary classrooms to help children
make Word Maps. A model is provided in Figure 7-8 in the textbook.
2. Context Clues Ask the college students to visit an elementary classroom to conduct a read
III: Resources
Related Readings
Encourage students to explore the topics presented in chapter 7 in more depth by reading the
professional literature listed below.
Allington, R. L. (2006). What really matters for struggling readers (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn &
Bacon/Pearson.
Fisher, D., Frey, N., & Lapp, D. (2008). Shared readings: Modeling comprehension,
Online Resources
Choosing, Chatting, and Collecting: Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy
This lesson plan published on the Read Write Think website empowers students to take
National Middle School Students Association
Rooting Out Meaning: Morpheme Match-Ups in the Primary Grades
Young students can learn to use morphemes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. This
