Vocabulary
& Reading
Comprehension
Helping students understand
By Vicki Boman
Goals
• To
explain how vocabulary affects reading
comprehension and fluency
• To help teachers identify ways they can offer more
access to vocabulary in their classroom
References

Hirsch, Jr. E.D.(2003, Spring) Reading
Comprehension Requires Knowledge-of Words
and the World: Scientific Insights into the
Fourth-Grade Slump and Stagnant Reading
Comprehension. American Educator. American
Federation of Teachers.

Lehr, F., Osbourne, J. & Dr. Hiebert, E. (2004).
A Focus on Vocabulary.
http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm

Blachowicz, C. & Fischer, P. (2004).
Vocabulary Lessons. Educational Leadership.
Vol. 61 (6), p.66-70.

Juel, C. & Defies, R. (2004). Making Words
Stick. Educational Leadership. Vol. 61(6), p.3034.
Schedule
• Welcome and brief introduction (1 min)
• Ice breaker (5 mins)
- Put a text on the screen and read it out loud to the group. The text will include
several non-sense words that will make it hard for the group to understand the
story. After ask questions about the story. Then have the group talk about why
they could not understand the text.
• Define vocabulary and its importance in reading comprehension (2-3 minutes)
• Show video “Vocabulary: Building Excitement about Words”
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=254414&title=Vocabulary
__Building_Excitement_about_Words and brief discussion of what did you
notice in the video (7 minutes)
• Brainstorm and present ways to include vocabulary in your classroom and
lessons (10 minutes)
• Introduce the STAR strategy from Blachowicz & Fischer: select (the best
words), teach (definition, context, usage), activate (use in class discussions),
revisit (games, writing, review). (5 minutes)
• Break into groups and give each group a word that they need to present to the
rest of the groups. They can invent a game, song or activity to reinforce the
word. (15 minutes)
Schedule Cont.
• Summary and questions (5 minutes)
• Give everyone a paper to write 1 thing they will do in the next week to add
more vocabulary in their lessons, 1 thing they want to do in one month and one
thing they want to do in 1 year (3 minutes)
• Evaluation form for the workshop in the format of 2 stars and 1 wish
Details

The workshop should be offered to no more
than 20-25 teachers at a time so that there is
enough time for discussion and
participations

They should be seated at round tables to
make it easier to talk

The room will need to be equipped with a
screen, projector, speakers, and internet

Coffee/tea and fruit will be available as a
light snack

A one-page (double-sided) handout will be
distributed including a reading list and
vocabulary tips
Strategies
Take Home Reading
• Include a write up about the importance of vocabulary in the weekly or
monthly newsletter for parents
• Along with the nightly take home reading books, include a list of
vocabulary for parents to review with their child. These will be words
found in the book they will read.
• For children that do not have access to an adult that can go over the
vocabulary or help them read, send home an audio version with the book
and introduce the vocabulary before the story begins. Solicit donations of
old tape recorders, cd players or mp3 players that you can use for
children that don’t have an electronic device they can use at home.