Book Study, Bringing Words to Life - Robust Vocabulary Instruction - Second Edition 

By Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, and Linda Kucan 

Educators have struggled with how to teach vocabulary to their students, which in turn, is directly connected to reading comprehension and writing. In this second edition of Bringing Words to Life, the authors not only address creating a classroom climate where robust vocabulary instruction is the norm, but they also share specific and effective strategies for teaching vocabulary, its relationship to good  writing, and working with struggling readers as well as English language learners. This is an important read for educators wanting to learn more about vocabulary instruction in grades K-12. 

This course is ongoing and renews annually

Use the external link provided to register for this course through Teacher Study.  The registration fee is $175.  The clock hours are sponsored by ESD 112 and the clock hour fee for this course is $90.

1. Purchase and read Bringing Words to Life - Robust Vocabulary Instruction, Second Edition  By Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, and Linda Kucan

     You can find this book at amazon.com or your favorite bookstore. 

2) Write complete answers to all of the questions on the Book Study Handout. The handout is provided to you after registration is completed.

3a) Elementary school teachers - Referencing chapter 4 found on page 55 in the text, complete the assignment on page 81: Use what you have learned in this chapter to create some lesson plans for one week of vocabulary instruction. Select a book that you would like to share with the children. Decide which words you would like the children to learn. After the story has been read - which may or may not be on the same day - provide explanations of the words in context and create activities in which children have to engage with the meanings of the words. You may find that the Menu of Instructional Activities in the Appendix is a useful resource here. Turn in these lesson plans. While there is no requirement for the length of this assignment, be sure to include five days worth of activities for your students in the lesson plans. Also, be sure to include the name of the book you chose and the vocabulary words you chose to teach.   

3b) Secondary school teachers - Referencing chapter 5 found on page 82 in the text, complete the assignment on page 102: Use what you have learned in this chapter to develop some lesson plans for supporting students in thinking about a set of words that you have selected from a text that they are reading. Describe your rationale for selecting the words, Then, develop an instructional sequence with five days worth of activities to help students use and respond to the words in meaningful ways. Refer to the Menu of Instructional Activities in the Appendix as a resource. Turn in these lesson plans. While there is no requirement for the length of this assignment, be sure to include five days worth of activities for your students in the lesson plans. Also, be sure to include the name of the book you chose and the vocabulary words you chose to teach.