Provide explicit vocabulary instruction and strategies to help
students become independent vocabulary learners. A Classroom
ScenarioMary E. Curtis, Ph.D. In this interview Dr. Curtis
describes what good vocabulary instruction would look like in a
classroom. She addresses the need for explicit instruction and
multiple practice opportunities in a variety of contexts. (5:15
min) - Dedicate a portion of regular classroom lessons to
explicit vocabulary instruction. - The amount of time dedicated
to explicit instruction will be dictated by the vocabulary load
of the text and the students' prior knowledge. Making certain
that students are familiar with the vocabulary they will
encounter in reading selections can help make the reading task
easier. Computer instruction can be an effective way to provide
practice on vocabulary and leverage classroom time. - Provide
repeated exposure to new words in multiple oral and written
contexts and allow sufficient practice sessions. - Words are
usually learned only after they app