Increasing Reading

Vocabulary
Incorporating Effective
Strategies into the Classroom

EDU 344
Lindsey Finch, Jessica Rapp, and Christian Stewart
Why is vocabulary instruction important?

80% of the variance in students’ reading comprehension test

scores is attributed to vocabulary knowledge.

70% of reading comprehension problems are

attributed to vocabulary knowledge.

(Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)

Types of Vocabulary (Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)

Listening Vocabulary: This is the largest category of vocabulary

and is made up of words we can hear and understand.

Speaking Vocabulary: This is the second largest category of

vocabulary and is comprised of the words that are spoken.

Reading Vocabulary: These are the words we can identify and

understand when we read.

Writing Vocabulary: This is the smallest category of vocabulary

and includes the words we use in writing.
Response to Intervention: Vocabulary Cluster

Rainy Day
It is a rainy day
and my mom makes me hot
chocolate.
I snuggle up nice and warm
with a big, blue, cozy ______.

Rainy Day by Lindsey Finch

 Response to Intervention: Semantic Map
“A
blueprint
in which
students
sketch
out or
map what
they
know
about a
topic”
(Reutzel & Cooter,
Response to Intervention: Village English Activity

Our Language Heritage Standard American English

Escuela School

Rojo Red

Camisa Shirt

Casa House

Queso Cheese
Let’s Play!

Kahoot.it
Pin: 6279481
Motivation and Engagement: How?

1. Provide readers with numerous experiences with a word or

a concept
2. Help students see that words can be defined differently and
yet can still be correct
3. Provide opportunities for creative activities involving words
(Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)
 Motivation and Engagement Strategies
Kahoot!
● Multiple correct answers
● Encourages students to
rationalize their answer
● Adds value to discovering
context clues
Word Maps- Frayer Model
● Independent and group
opportunities
● Allows students to interact
with the concept of the word
● Used before, during, or after
reading
● Improves retention of
information
(Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)
Things to Avoid in Vocabulary
Instruction
1) Relying on traditional definitions

1) Using lecture as the main form of

instruction

1) Rote memorization without word

interaction

(Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)

“Vocabulary instruction is motivating when it is
challenging, inventive, and playful.”
(Reutzel & Cooter, 2015)
References
Reutzel, D. R., & Cooter, R. B. (2015). Teaching children to read: the teacher
makes the difference (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Solity, J., & Vousden, J. I. (2009). Real books vs.
reading schemes: A new perspective from
instructional psychology. Educational
Psychology, 29, 469–511.

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