1 Ways with Words: Effective Vocabulary Instruction

Vocabulary knowledge contributes to reading comprehension, and is linked to academic success (National Reading Panel, 2000). Those of us who enjoy reading, and who read frequently, are constantly learning new words. Vocabulary growth takes place as children encounter unknown words in oral and written language. Yet many children with reading problems read very little and may hear only limited numbers of words; they rarely confront new, unfamiliar words through reading. Children benefit from learning strategies in six specific areas that often are problematic for word meaning. These include learning about available clues such as (a) context clues and (b) structural clues, (c) dictionary definitions and thesaurus entries, (d) semantic relationships such as antonyms and synonyms, (e) multiple meanings of many words, and (f) appreciation of figurative language such as metaphors, idioms, similes, and analogies. Context Clues Teachers often point out context clues to children. Yet Miller & Gildea (1987