Teaching Vocabulary:
Teaching Vocabulary Using Storybooks

Critical Design Features of Storybook Instruction

• Repeated readings of stories (alternated)
• Classic stories or on lists of recommended readings
• Performance reading style (Extended intro; few interruptions during reading, dialogue after reading)
• 3 target words per story
• Scaffolded story grammar intro and retell

How to Select Words to Preteach

• Identify words that are critical to story understanding that are not explained in the text.
• Select words students will "encounter" again (moderate frequency words)
• Preteach meanings of words using examples, synonyms, definitions
• Provide children opportunities to use the words.