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Vocabulary Is Comprehension

Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

By: Laura J. Robb

Laura Robb provides a systematic vocabulary plan that takes just 10 to 15 minutes, and much of it is spent in partner and independent work. All materials are included.

Product Details
  • Grade Level: PreK-12
  • ISBN: 9781483345802
  • Published By: Corwin
  • Series: Corwin Literacy
  • Year: 2014
  • Page Count: 200
  • Publication date: September 09, 2014

Price: $29.95

Price: $29.95
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Description

Description

Here is a reading riddle: What knowledge always precedes high-level text comprehension and yet seldom is given sufficient instructional time?

The answer: Word knowledge. 

Our students can’t understand texts without knowing what words mean. It’s that simple. Meanwhile, in our rush toward complex texts, somehow we forget to put a new systematic vocabulary plan in place. In Vocabulary Is Comprehension, Laura Robb provides the instructional plan. And just wait until you see the results!

Laura’s plan takes just 10 to 15 minutes, and much of it is spent in partner and independent work so this is no “add on” to squeeze in. Even better, all materials are included.  Each lesson features a student reproducible along with 50+ pieces of short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—or, if you prefer, use your own text.

Here’s how the plan works:

  • Day 1: You read aloud the short text and students discuss the selected words in their context. Students work in pairs, rereading the text to understand words and phrases, and then share understandings as a class.
  • Days 2 & 3: Students finish partner work and complete the reproducible.

Along the way, the 35+ lessons:

  • Support complex text comprehension
  • Cover academic vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, multiple meanings, figurative language, denotative and connotative meanings, Greek and Latin roots, and more
  • Address specific CCSS vocabulary and writing standards
  • Include strategies for ELLs and developing readers, and formative assessments
  •  Link to a wealth of online reproducibles, words lists, and printable complex texts

Laura surrounds these ready-to-teach lessons with the routines that help students read increasingly demanding texts across the curriculum. Students blog, tweet, and apply words in many different contexts . . . look out for related words in books, ads, and media . . . and many other collaborative activities that promote deep word knowledge rather than shallow word-defining. If you’re looking for a resource that will make all the difference as you address the new reach for rigorous, complex text reading, Vocabulary Is Comprehension is it.

An author, teacher, coach, and speaker, LAURA ROBB has spent the last four decades in middle school education.  What teachers appreciate most about Laura is her deep commitment to children and adolescents, and her ability to show what best-practice instruction looks like day by day; a survey conducted by Instructor magazine named Laura as one of the nation’s top twenty educators. Currently, in addition to her speaking and consulting, she works part time in grades K-8. 

 

Author(s)

Author(s)

Laura J. Robb photo

Laura J. Robb

An author, teacher, coach, and speaker, LAURA ROBB has spent the last four decades in middle school education. What teachers appreciate most about Laura is her deep commitment to children and adolescents, and her ability to show what best-practice instruction looks like day by day; a survey conducted by Instructor magazine named Laura as one of the nation’s top twenty educators. Currently, in addition to her speaking and consulting, she works part time in grades K-8. She was named NCTE’s recipient of the 2016 Richard W. Halle Award for Outstanding Middle Level Educator.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Kathy Ganske


Acknowledgments


Chapter 1. How the Common Core Has Changed the Rules of the Game Forever (Even If the Standards Go Away)

     Big Ambition: Vocabulary in the Context of All the ELA Standards

     Vocabulary in the Context of Complex Text Reading

     Research Highlights

     The Lesson Structure: 10 to 15 Minutes a Day

     The Big 10 Approach to Reading Words Closely

     The Big 10 and the Common Core Vocabulary Standards

     Collaborate and Learn

Chapter 2. Ten Short Lessons for the Big 10

     Which Words Do I Teach?

     Laying Out the Lessons for the Big 10

     Elements of the Lesson

     Lesson 1: Understanding Descriptive Words to Visualize

     Lesson 2: Decode and Define Multisyllable Words

     Lesson 3: Understanding Personification

     Lesson 4: Write to Show Understanding of Words

     Lesson 5: Synonyms, Antonyms, and Multiple Meanings

     Lesson 6: Connecting Words to a Text's Concepts

     Lesson 7: Understanding Denotative and Connotative Meanings

     Lesson 8: Showing Word Knowledge via Twitter

     Lesson 9: Four Words to Respond to Texts

     Lesson 10: Multiple Forms, Multiple Meanings

     Collaborate and Learn

Chapter 3. Figurative Language

     Helping Students Not to Be Cowed by Figurative Language

     Guidelines for Reading Poetry

     Lesson 1: Alliteration

     Lesson 2: Metaphor

     Lesson 3: Onomatopoeia

     Lesson 4: Repetition

     Lesson 5: Simile

     Lesson 6: Symbols and Symbolism

     Lesson 7: Idioms

     Using Discussions to Interpret Figurative Language

     Three Reproducibles for Discussing and Writing About Poems

     Discussions on Class Blogs

     Collaborate and Learn

Chapter 4. Getting to the Root of Words

     What the Common Core State Standards Have to Say

     Review Lessons on Prefixes and Suffixes

     Lesson 1: Prefixes

     Lesson 2: Suffixes

     A Five-Day Routine for Teaching Roots

     Lesson 3: Expand Vocabulary With Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

     Lesson 4: Make Words With Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

     How to Link the Lessons to Students' Reading

     More Strategies That Use Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

     Lesson 5: Prefix Brainstorm

     Lesson 6: Denotation-Connotation Map

     Collaborate and Learn

Chapter 5. General Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary

     The CCR Anchor Standards for Reading

     Quick Recap: How the Lessons in This Book Address the Anchor Standards

     Four Categories of Academic Vocabulary

     The Best Use of Word Lists

     Why General Academic Vocabulary Is Key

     Basic Elements of General Academic Vocabulary Lessons

     Lessons for Teaching General Academic Words

     Lesson 1: Rate Your Word Knowledge

     Lesson 2: ABC List and Link

     Lesson 3: Concept Map and Writing

     Lesson 4: Words in the World

     Lesson 5: Making Analogies on a Class Wiki or Blog

     Lesson 6: Tweeting for Word Learning

     Collaborate and Learn

Chapter 6. Assessing Vocabulary

     So How Are They Reading Complex Texts?

     Informative Assessment and Responsive Teaching

     Why Final Tests Are Problematic

     Gathering Data Throughout the Lessons

     Making Instructional Decisions and Modifications

     Introducing Lessons: The First Day

     Practicing the Lessons: Second and Possibly Third Days

     Applying the Lessons: Completing Written Work

     Self-Evaluation

     How to Scaffold and Reteach

     Collaborate and Learn

     Concluding Thoughts on Vocabulary Instruction

     Ten Ways Students Can Expand Their Vocabularies

References


Index


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