Word Feast Elementary

Robust vocabulary instruction focuses on the high-frequency words that are most productive for expanding everyday expression, learning, and reading comprehension.  These Tier 2 words, a label coined by Beck, McKeown, & Kucan, 2002:   

• appear frequently across a variety of subject areas.
• are not part of students' day-to-day vocabulary.
• have rich meaning and connections to other words and concepts.
• add specificity and flexibility to students' expression.
• easily link to other words students already know.

Two decades of research have shown this instruction method is most effective in advancing students' vocabulary growth (Moore, 2011). 

The substantive, seven page lessons in Word Feast Elementary use a consistent pattern of reading, thinking, and writing exercises.  Each lesson progresses from comprehension to expressive activities and follows this sequence:

• introduction of new words and teaching tips
• questions to activate prior knowledge
• two to four reading passages
• word definitions with examples
• associations activity
• thinking activities like: Finish the Thought, Yes/No Questions, In Your Own Words, Word Webs, Antonyms & Synonyms, Predicting, and more

The age-appropriate chapter topics such as Truth or Myth and Inventions Old and New are mostly curricular.  The chapters progress in difficulty regarding general knowledge, readability, and word knowledge.    

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