Graves, Michael F. (2006). The Vocabulary Book: Learning and Instruction. New York: Teachers College Press, IRA, and NCTE.
Graves, Michael F. (2009). Teaching Individual Words: One Size Does Not Fit All. New York: Teachers College Press and IRA.
Teaching Individual Words: One Size Does Not Fit All, PowerPoint Presentation, IRA, May 2008.
Word Consciousness: One Vital Part of a Comprehensive Vocabulary Program
Four-Part Vocabulary Program
Providing frequent, rich, and varied language experiences
- reading, writing, discussion, listening
- read as much and as widely as possible
Teaching individual words
- active and robust instruction
- word selection
- include definitional and contextual information
- activate prior knowledge
- compare and contrast word meanings
- make inferences
- opportunities for frequent encounters
Teaching word-learning strategies
- context clues
- word parts
- resources (web or print dictionaries, thesauruses, tools)
Fostering word consciousness
- creating a word-rich environment
- recognizing and promoting adept diction
- promoting word play
- fostering word consciousness through writing
- involving students in original investigations