Notes young children's fast mapping ability for word and fact learning. Finds children's extension of a new word to novel objects from same category but lack of extension for new facts, as replicated by Waxman and Booth, unsurprising. Poses more interesting question: is word learning done solely through more general cognitive systems or through…

Describes an approach to spelling--word class--that combines a self-selected approach to spelling instruction and thinking skills. Suggests that this approach helps students become more sensitive to letter patterns and word parts, adds depth and dimension to their vocabulary, teaches thinking skills, creates more authentic thinking and writing…

Characterizes the influence of various conditions of word exposure upon children's receptive and expressive learning of novel words occurring within storybook reading interactions with adults. Examines adults' questioning versus labeling of novel words and adults' use of perceptual versus conceptual questions about novel words. Suggests that…

This article discusses the importance of mathematical vocabulary, difficulties students encounter in learning this vocabulary, and some instructional strategies. Two general methods for teaching vocabulary are discussed: context and explicit vocabulary instruction. The methods are summarized as they apply to mathematical vocabulary instruction and…

Investigates the differential effects of three conditions--nonegotiated, premodified input, negotiation without "pushed output, and negotiation plus pushed output--on second language (L2) learners vocabulary comprehension and acquisition (receptive and productive). Findings of the study provide empirical evidence for the important role of…

To understand the development of number-word construction, students in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7 named and counted from a set of numbers into the billions in two studies. Findings are discussed both in relation to children's growing knowledge of the number system and to vocabulary development. (Author)

Considers what kinds of classroom interactions contributed to the awareness and motivation of at-risk students' interest in vocabulary. Describes the effects of the Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy (VSS). Provides strong support for the VSS as an effective means both for increasing the depth and breadth of student vocabulary knowledge and for…

This article argues that direct instruction of grammar and vocabulary must be restored to their necessary place in language arts programs for gifted children, who need educated vocabularies and grammar competence of exceptional quality. It discusses strategies for instructing vocabulary and the benefits of learning grammar. (Contains references.)…

Compared the proportions of nouns and verbs in early vocabularies of English- and Mandarin-speaking toddlers and their mothers. Found that Mandarin-speaking children had relatively fewer nouns and more verbs than English-speaking children. When reading books, children's vocabularies were dominated by nouns but not when playing with toys. Mothers…

Examines the potential for vocabulary learning using a corpus of 42 grade readers from one series of graded readers (seven at each of six levels in the series). It was found that in order to have 95% coverage of the running words at a level in the series, it was necessary to already know the vocabulary of the current level in the scheme.…

Explores the function of items of procedural vocabulary as signals of conceptual relations in scientific discourse. Procedural vocabulary consists of lexical items that do not belong to any particular schema. Develops a taxonomy of procedural items in terms of the contextual relations they create between content-bearing words, classifying the…

Investigated possible links between classroom interaction and the learning of new vocabulary. Learners were asked to report the new words they could recall immediately after their lessons. Found both positive and negative links between mentioning new words, repeating new words, focusing on new words, turn-taking around new words, and recall and…

Investigates development of vocabulary knowledge in fourth graders as a function of story reading for partially known and unknown words. Finds vocabulary growth was small but even for both partially known and unknown words; however, the characteristics of the words being learned themselves (particularly, part of speech and concreteness) were more…

Investigated effects of video technology as a tool for facilitating vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension skills of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders with learning disabilities. Video instruction group students were taught word meanings and concepts in videodisc-based contexts; nonvideo group students were taught using printed texts.…

Examined how acoustic variation affects second language (L2) lexical acquisition in consideration of four hypotheses: degraded input, elaborate processing, independent modulation, and robust versus strong connectivity. Beginners of L2 Spanish attempted to learn 24 Spanish words presented in 1 of 3 degrees of acoustic variation. Immediate and…