September 2023

Focus on Vocabulary, Reading Aloud, and Books for September Celebrations

In this issue: In Focus: Vocabulary / In the Classroom / Especially for Parents / Children’s Books & Authors / Events & News

In Focus: Vocabulary

Vocabulary plays a key role in language comprehension. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find featured articles on effective vocabulary instruction, classroom strategies, content area vocabulary, and more.

Classroom Strategy: Semantic Gradients

Semantic gradients are a great way to deepen children’s nuanced understanding of related words. Go inside Cathy Doyle's second grade classroom to observe how a recent class read-aloud, A Seed Is Sleepy, becomes the springboard for a lively discussion about words that describe the size of things (massive vs. gigantic and tiny vs. microscopic). See more vocabulary strategies.

Previewing Vocabulary Before Reading

Studies have shown that previewing unfamiliar words before students read improves comprehension. Get tips on choosing words to preview and find examples of vocabulary knowledge checklists in this article from Joan Sedita (Keys to Literacy).

6 Goals of an Ideal Vocabulary Curriculum

Strong vocabulary instruction focuses on six strands: robust word banks, morphemes, context, how to use a dictionary, word choice, and word consciousness. Learn more about each strand, including the importance of weaving all six together.

Related:

• Building Word Knowledge (Reading Universe)

5 Things Every Teacher Should Know about Vocabulary Instruction

Much vocabulary is learned without formal teaching. We gain words from conversation, observation, television/media, and reading. However, research shows that explicitly teaching vocabulary can measurably improve reading comprehension — if we teach the right words well enough. Here are five key principles to effective vocabulary instruction.

Choosing Words to Teach

Teaching vocabulary is complex. What words are important for a child to know and in what context? In this excerpt from Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction, the authors (Beck, McKeown, and Kucan) consider what principles might be used for selecting which words to explicitly teach.

Content Area Vocabulary

Vocabulary lies at the heart of content learning. In this article, literacy experts Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey talk about effective strategies to support word learning in the content areas: give students time to read widely, intentionally select words worthy of instruction, model their own word solving strategies, and provide students with opportunities to engage in collaborative conversations.

Watch: Our video interview with Dr. Nancy Frey where she talks about background knowledge, close reading, the importance of writing, and more.

Self-Paced Online Learning Module on Teaching Vocabulary

With our free module, you can take a deep dive into word learning strategies, indirect vocabulary instruction, choosing words to teach, academic vocabulary, and more. Test your knowledge with a pre- and post-test.

Learn More!

Browse our complete library of vocabulary resources for more articles, research briefs, parent tips, and video clips.

Exploring Civics and Our Government

“Our Democracy” combines hands-on activities with great fiction, poetry, and picture book biographies — inspiring kids to read about our democracy, citizenship, and social responsibility. Download your free guide from our sister site, Start with a Book!

In the Classroom

Mastering Short Vowels and Reading Whole Words

In this video, reading expert Linda Farrell works with Calista, an early stage reader, on short vowel sounds, blending and manipulating sounds, reading whole words, and fluency. Ms. Farrell starts by making sure Calista has a strong foundation in short vowel sounds by teaching her hand motions to remember those sounds more easily. With this video, you'll also find a free downloadable Viewer's Guide and Facilitator's Guide to support professional development in your school or district.

Watch other episodes in our Looking at Reading Interventions series. (Produced in partnership with the National Education Association)

What Can I Do With All These Predictable Books?

To repurpose predictable books for activities other than reading, we need to look at them with fresh eyes and new criteria. What are the features of this individual book that make it a useful teaching tool? A single book may have more than one useful feature and it might be repurposed for any number of language development, writing, or art activities. Discover some of the features you might look for in predictable books and example activities to help with lesson planning.

Author Study Toolkit

Author studies help students develop their reading, writing, research, and critical thinking skills as well as establish a stronger community of readers. This kind of in-depth study can also expose kids to different literary voices and styles. And they’re fun! Get started planning a classroom project using our step-by-step guide. We’ve also included a sample author study, featuring Patricia Polacco and her books.

Especially for Parents

How to Choose Read Aloud Books: Babies to Third Graders

How do you choose books to read aloud with your child? There are many things to think about: how interesting the topic or characters might be for your child; an intriguing setting, time period, or plot; the liveliness or beauty of the language; or how engaging the illustrations are. Some books are more appropriate based on social and emotional development at each stage of a young child’s life. Find guidance here in choosing great read alouds.

Related tip sheets in English and Spanish:

• Simple Yet Powerful Things to Do While Reading Aloud
• Picture This! Using Mental Imagery While Reading
• Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3

Reading Adventure Packs for Families

Here’s a fun way to connect reading together with learning! Our themed reading adventure packs encourage hands-on fun, creativity, and learning centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books.

How do I help my child learn new words while we read aloud?

Reading aloud is a great way for children to learn new words. In this video, literacy expert Sandra Wilborn suggests that parents pause during the read aloud to elaborate on a new word by giving a simple definition, connecting the word to something your child knows, and using it in a sentence. Reinforce the learning by using that new word at home in the weeks ahead.

Find more helpful tips in our Reading and Writing SOS video series. (Created in partnership with the National Education Association)

Self-Esteem and Reading Difficulties

Reading difficulties can have a significant impact on a child’s self-esteem. Children who struggle with reading may feel embarrassed, frustrated, or ashamed. Find out how to help your child, through active encouragement and by focusing on strengths and successes.

Children’s Books & Authors

Ways to Make Sunshine: Our Interview with Renée Watson

Meet Renée Watson — a poet, a teacher, and an award-winning author of books for young readers, including the Ryan Hart middle grade series, the picture book biography Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Florence Mills Story, the story of Maya Angelou told in free verse (Maya’s Song), the picture book Born on the Water, and the middle grade novel Some Places More Than Others. Many of her books are inspired by her experiences growing up as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrate the lives, stories, cultural traditions, diversity, and history of the Latino and Hispanic community through beautiful children’s books! Watch videos with Matt de la Peña, Meg Medina, Lulu Delacre, Carmen Agra Deedy (and other favorite authors) and browse our booklists.

Related:

• Hearing the Music Around You
  In this blog post, award-winning poet and author Margarita Engle talks about her picture book A Song of Frutas (Un Pregón de Frutas) and how it honors the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren (plus the joy of snail mail — “a hug made of words”).


• More books!
  Our sister site Colorín Colorado has created an Hispanic Heritage book collection featuring more than 50 booklists for kids and teens, including lots of award winners.

Ways to Read a Book

From children’s literature expert and Reading Rockets blogger Maria Salvadore: “A book recently came across my desk. After I harrumphed about the title, erroneously assuming it was silly, I spent some time with it and found myself not only engaged but amused and intrigued.”

The title is 101 Ways to Read a Book by Timothee de Fombelle (translated by Karin Snelson and Angus Yuen-Killick). Who would have thought that there were so many ways to read a book? The Sunflower, the Sleepwalker, the Classic, the Drifter, the Night Owl, and even the Octopus … which one are you?

NEA’s Read Across America 2023-2024 Calendar Is Here!

Each month, Read Across America features three books — one each for young, middle grade, and YA readers — that explore a topic related to diversity and inclusion. Each title includes activity suggestions, questions for discussion or reflective writing, related resources, and more titles to try. September’s theme: Tackle Challenges Together — find strength and discover hope in community.

Events & News

National Summer Learning Summit
October 9-11, 2023 | Washington, DC

International Dyslexia Association Annual Conference
October 12-14, 2023 | Columbus, OH

NCTE Annual Conference
November 16-19, 2023 | Columbus, OH

The Reading League Virtual Lecture Series
Watch on demand (free)

Prize-winning U.S. kids’ authors learn a lot when they visit kids in Kenya
National Public Radio

3 Ways to Help Students Master Academic Language
Edutopia

How our district moved the needle on early literacy (and you can too)
Ed Source

Q&A: Top NAEP Official Talks About the Future of Nation’s Report Card
Education Week

Amid Reading Wars, Teachers College Will Close a Star Professor’s Shop
The New York Times

How Educators Are Trying to Find the Staff and Money to Improve Reading Instruction
Education Week

A Pen Pal Project for Elementary School
Edutopia