1. DIANE KERN, PH. D. UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND NERA CONFERENCE-SEPTEMBER 2008 DKERN@URI.EDU Vocabulary Instruction for Struggling Readers K-2

2. Agenda Setting our purpose Key strategies: There’s no ONE right way! Several practical ideas in the context of research- based practice AND great children’s literature Payoffs Resources 2

3. Defining terms Vocabulary is defined “as knowledge of words and word meanings in both oral and print language in productive and receptive forms.” Lehr, Osborn, & Hiebert (2004) A Focus on Vocabulary http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm 3

4. Word Rich and Word Poor “Students’ vocabulary knowledge relates strongly to their reading comprehension and overall academic success.” (Baumann, Kame’enui & Ash, 2003) “The Matthew Effect”…”the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” (Stanovich, 1996) Know thy enemy #1 Reading Less #2 The 4 th Grade Slump 4

5. Consider this On average, school-aged students learn approximately 3,000 words per year or 8 words per day. Unfortunately, some students learn only 1 or 2 words a day Factors: SES, language factors, memory problems… 5

6. No one right way! Direct instruction Indirect instruction Repeated and multiple exposures Contexts for learning Active engagement Varied methods 6

7. Direct Instruction: Word Study Direct vocabulary instruction improves comprehension (Baumann, Kame’enui, & Ash, 2003; Beck & McKeown, 1991; Stahl & Fairbanks, 1996). ESL learners rely more heavily on direct instruction than native speakers (Goulden, Nation, & Read, 1990). **Word banks **Word Study activities from Words Their Way http://literacyconnections.com/WordsTheirWay.html 7

8. Indirect instruction Students learn words through wide reading (Nagy & Herman, 1987; Fielding, Wilson, & Anderson, 1986). Prior knowledge/experience supports increased vocabulary knowledge (Marzano, 2004). **Nonfiction and Fiction…Spiders, Bats, and Autumn Leaves, oh my! 8

9. Repeated, multiple exposures Repeated exposure to words in meaningful contexts improves comprehension (Nagy, 1990). Semantic mapping improves recall and understanding (Pittelman, Levin, & Johnson, 1985). **Semantic Mapping **Semantic Feature Analysis 9

10. Rich contexts for learning Knowing a word means more than knowing the definition of a word (Scott & Nagy, 1997). A rich conceptual base matters (Johnson & Pearson, 1984). ** Wordless Picture Books **Planting a Rainbow 10

11. Active Engagement Discussion leads to vocabulary learning (Stahl & Clark, 1987). Students learn new words by learning strategies for understanding unfamiliar words (Blachowicz & Fisher, 2004). ** Out of the Ocean **Computer-assisted methods http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/compre.htm#vocab http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills_1st.htm# lang 11

12. Varied methods=Payoffs Students learn words in a variety of ways (Blachowicz & Fisher, 2004). Knowledge of word meaning is critical to reading success (Johnson, Toms-Bronowski, & Pittelman, 1983). There is NO one way, NO one program, NO quick- fix… Choose what YOUR students need and provide meaningful, intrinsically motivating ways to help your young readers beat the 4 th grade slump! 12

13. Resources Allen, J. (2007). Inside words: Tools for teaching academic vocabulary, grades 4-12. Portland, ME: Stenhouse. Bear, D. R., Helman, L., Templeton, S., Invernizzi, M., Johnston, F. (2007). Words their way with English learners: Word study for phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction. Upper Saddle River, 13NJ: Pearson. Chall, J. S., & Jacobs,V. A. (2003). Research round-up: Poor children’s fourth grade slump. American Educator, 27(1), 14-18. Eaton, S. (2006). The children in room E4. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Stanovich, K. E. (1986). Matthew effects in reading: Some consequences of individual differences in the acquisition of literacy. Reading Research Quarterly, 21, 360-407. Vocabulary Acquisition: Synthesis of the Research http://idea.uoregon.edu/%7Encite/documents/techrep/tech13.html http://idea.uoregon.edu/%7Encite/documents/techrep/tech13.html 13

14. Children’s Literature Aliki. (1988). Dinosaur bones. New York: Scholastic. DePaola, T. (1978). Pancakes for breakfast. SanDiego, C A: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Elhert, L. (1988). Planting a rainbow. SanDiego, C A: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Emberley, R. (1990). Taking a walk: A book in two languages; (Caminando: Un libro en dos lenguas). New York: Scholastic. Frasier, D. (1998). Out of the ocean. San Diego, CA: Voyager Books, Harcourt. Gibbons, G. (1999). Bats. New York: Scholastic. Robbins, K. (1998). Autumn leaves. New York: Scholastic. Trapani, I. (1993). The itsy bitsy spider. Watertown, MA: Charlesberg. 14