Describes the Science Concept-Vocabulary Acquisition (SCVA) model which promotes simultaneous cognitive construction of science concepts and the scientific nomenclature needed to understand and communicate those concepts. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

Advocates concept-related vocabulary instruction, in which students link individual words with larger literature concepts. Outlines four steps to creating a concept-related vocabulary lesson. Offers examples of how concept-related vocabulary lessons can be conducted while reading, before reading, and after reading. Outlines web, weave, and…

Assessed word-learning skills of 19 deaf/hard-of-hearing preschoolers either with novel mapping strategy to learn new words, or after minimal exposure when reference was explicitly established. Found that 11 children were able to learn words in both contexts, 5 only in the second, and 2 in neither. The latter 7 children eventually were able to…

Using examples in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, the article suggests various activities to promote the learning of descriptive adjectives and to expand students' active vocabulary. These activities include describing oneself or a friend, finding a person who possesses certain characteristics, choosing an ideal companion, and…

Presents activities found to be useful in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, including a game in which the teacher guesses the meaning of words in students' native tongues; an exercise in which students write predictions, such as weather forecasting, in English; a game in which students explain the meaning of selected idioms in their own…

Argues the importance of contextually relevant word study across the curriculum of upper levels of schooling. Outlines and describes seven general principles for making word study strategies a natural part of ongoing studies in the subject areas, and describes their application in class. (SR)

Discusses 16 well-reviewed software products designed for elementary grade students--those products that make explicit claims about developing students' lexical knowledge and those that do not. Also examines the potential of technology to enhance vocabulary learning. (Author/VWL)

Considers how the use of graphic organizers helps students understand difficult concepts about literacy. Notes that graphic and other visual organizers help students to understand interconcept relationships by presenting the information spatially. Describes the four-square strategy which integrates specific aspects of phonics instruction,…

A comparison is made between a new technique (the Handle Technique), Integrated Picture Cueing, and a Word Alone Method. Results show using a new combination of teaching strategies enabled logographic symbols to be used effectively in teaching word recognition to 12 children with severe learning difficulties. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes how profiles of individual readers are valuable constructs in assessing independent word learning strategies and how such information can drive instruction. Describes the independent word learning strategies of three learners of varying ability, illustrating what information think-alouds can provide teachers. Discusses instructional…

A study explored the effects of class-wide peer tutoring on the acquisition of sight words in a self-contained class of 10 fourth-and fifth-grade students with mild to moderate disabilities. All students gained approximately one grade level in sight word recognition over the eight-week peer tutoring period. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Looked at the foreign language vocabulary learning and forgetting in experienced foreign language learners, using a paired-associate training technique in which native-language words were paired with pseudowords. Cognates and concrete words were easier to learn and less susceptible to forgetting than noncognates and abstract words. (Author/VWL)

Presents a discussion by dedicated teachers (who were taking a university course for reading assessment and diagnosis) about students' problems with vocabulary words that impede successful reading comprehension. Discusses how the interactive process of developing the strategies pushed the teachers' imaginations and created a challenge for the…

Describes the "Beautiful Me!" kindergarten unit, which uses children's literature to help children develop a rich vocabulary to describe themselves, their friends, and family, and to avoid words placing people into categories and stereotypes. Activities include providing various skin-tone crayons for drawing and using craft materials to depict…

Explores the language used when teaching mathematics to young British children. Considers two aspects of children's learning: (1) understanding a concept being introduced; and (2) learning the appropriate word for the concept. Reports on part of a research project studying 5-year-old children as they acquire new mathematical concepts. (CMK)