Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

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. 

 

1125300954
Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

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. 

 

23.49 In Stock
Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

by Laura J. Robb
Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Text Complexity

by Laura J. Robb

eBook

$23.49  $31.00 Save 24% Current price is $23.49, Original price is $31. You Save 24%.

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers


Overview

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. 

 


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781483383613
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication date: 08/21/2014
Series: Corwin Literacy
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 200
File size: 14 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

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

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
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews