Presents three examples of how basal reading programs miss opportunities to build word and world knowledge: lack of focus on systematically building essential knowledge and vocabulary during teacher read-alouds and discussions aimed at building background knowledge; wasting time by including too many lessons on formal reading comprehension skills;…

Examines students' ability to understand definitions of novel verbs--in 2 experiments upper elementary students received definitions of pseudowords paired with sentences using those words and evaluated use as appropriate for definition given. Finds students' judgments about these sentences were not substantially different from chance, suggesting…

Presents a situated based computer-assisted language learning system named VIDYA. The principles discussed include use of mastery learning in the situated learning context, student modeling of language constructs, dynamic courseware presentation and a generic courseware evaluation technique. Summarizes the present status of VIDYA. (24 references)…

Describes how television commercials can be put to use in teaching English-as-a-Foreign-Language vocabulary. (Author/VWL)

Explores the possibility that the first language and second language mental lexicon may be structurally similar, with depth of individual word knowledge determining a given word's degree of integration into the mental lexicon. Proposes a model for the process by which words are integrated into the mental lexicon and challenges the belief that a…

Shows that poetry performance in the elementary grades is an effective method that links oral and written language, aids in conceptual vocabulary development, enhances comprehension, and increases oral reading fluency. Discusses ways to properly apply poetry performance within the elementary classroom. Presents a nine-step lesson plan that…

Presents a word-game strategy that builds vocabulary and comprehension while motivating students. Concludes that activities like Flip-a-Chip (along with crossword puzzles and other forms of wordplay) have helped the author create a pleasantly literate environment in her classroom. (SG)

Examines the proposition that second language (L2) lexical forms are often mapped to the existing semantic content of their first language translations rather than to new semantic specifications of their own. Native and Nonnative English speakers were asked to perform two semantic judgment tasks in which they had to determine the degree of…

Examines the relationship between cross-sectional measures of referential style and measures based on the first 50 words in 12 first-born children. Because no relationship was found, it is argued that age-defined cross-sectional measures confound strategy differences in early language development with variation resulting from differences in…

Examines how vocabulary knowledge, the familiarity of words, and analytical reasoning affect sixth-grade students' ability to learn word meanings from passages in basal reading textbooks. Finds that general and passage-specific vocabulary knowledge are important variables that influence learning from context. Finds that analytical reasoning was…

Investigates whether second- and fifth-grade children already know the meanings of reading vocabulary presented as "new" vocabulary in their basal readers. Finds that, on average, children already knew more than 70 percent of the "new" words in basal readers one and two years beyond their grade level. (SR)

Describes a vocabulary lesson for middle school students designed to use mnemonics to reduce homophone misuse. Reports that students, working in small groups, developed mnemonics for over 300 homophones and compiled the results into a classroom reference book. (RS)

Evaluates more than a dozen vocabulary learning techniques for students of a second or foreign language. Each technique is evaluated in terms of underlying theoretical assumptions and practical utility. (53 references) (Author/CB)

The production of an "etymologary," a dictionary giving insight into etymology, is proposed as a creative Classroom activity and source of learning exercise that encourages linguistic manipulation, which can have positive effects on vocabulary development. Examples from French and Italian are presented. (MSE)

Describes the development of a Russian language enrichment program for four year olds and kindergartners. Visual aids, songs, games, and skits were used to introduce and review lexical items, whereas discussion focused on the cultural contrasts between the lives of Soviet and American children. (Author/CB)