Bringing words to life: robust vocabulary instruction (second edition)

This work is a practical guide to help K-12 students enlarge their vocabulary and get involved in noticing, understanding, and using new words.

The authors describe a three-tier model: tier one words are those that rarely require instruction (such as “dog” or “run”), tier two consists of words that have “high utility for mature language users” (such as “contradict” or “precede”), and tier three words are domain specific (such as “pantheon” or “epidermis”).

The research finds that tier two words are of vital importance to children’s development, and this book provides advice on how to expand that vital range, along with a range of different approaches to broaden children’s vocabulary. The authors explain how to select words for instruction, introduce their meanings, and create engaging learning activities that promote both word knowledge and reading comprehension. The authors are trusted experts who draw on extensive experience in diverse classrooms and schools. Sample lessons and vignettes, children's literature suggestions, end-of-chapter summaries, and "Your Turn" learning activities enhance the book's utility as a classroom resource, professional development tool, or course text.