Learning new words is foundational to success in school and life. Researchers have known for years that how many word meanings a student knows is one of the strongest predictors of how well that student will understand text and be able to communicate through writing. This book is about how children learn the meanings of new words (and the concepts they convey) and how teachers can be strategic in deciding which words to teach, how to teach them, and which words not to teach at all.

This book offers a comprehensive approach to vocabulary instruction. It offers not just practical classroom activities for teaching words (though plenty of those are included), but ways that teachers can make the entire curriculum more effective at promoting students' vocabulary growth. It covers the 'why to' and 'when to' as well as the 'how to' of teaching word meanings.

Key features of this exciting new book include:*A variety of vocabulary activities. Activities for teaching different kinds of words such as high frequency words, high utility words, and new concepts, are explained and illustrated.
*Guidelines for choosing words. A chart provides a simple framework built around seven basic categories of words that helps teachers decide which words to teach and how to teach them.
*Word learning strategies. Strategies are offered that will help students use context, word parts, and dictionaries more effectively.
*Developing Word Consciousness. Although specific vocabulary instruction is fully covered, the primary goal of this book is to develop students' independent interest in words and their motivation to learn them.
*Integrated Vocabulary Instruction. Teachers are encouraged to improve the reading vocabularies of their students by looking for opportunities to integrate vocabulary learning into activities that are undertaken for other purposes.

About the Author
Stahl, Steven A.; Nagy, William E.

Reviews

"The volume provides valuable insights into how to help students develop a sense of word consciousness, an independent interest in words, and a motivation to learn them. This is an important addition to every classroom teacher's bookshelf. Summing Up: Highly recommended."

-CHOICE, June 2007

"The purpose of the book by Stahl and Nagy is clearly to preferentially deal with what their title states: 'Teaching Word Meanings'. And very successful they are....the book's type of information ought to be of use not only to the main readership addressed, namely teachers of English and literacy. Writers in general and editors, not to mention linguistic (even semiotic) researchers, will find the book of great interest."
-PsycCRITIQUES

Book Information
ISBN 9780805843644
Author Steven A. Stahl
Format Paperback
Page Count 230
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Inc
Weight(grams) 430g