Rigorous vocabulary instruction is important because a strong vocabulary fosters academic, social, and vocational success.

Decades of research have identified multiple variables that have an impact on how hard or easy it is to learn and remember vocabulary words.

Though distinct, these two aspects of language development are deeply interconnected. A rich vocabulary can enhance oral language skills by providing the words needed for effective communication.

District leadership plays a significant role in supporting secondary teachers with the resources, techniques, and professional development practices necessary to create vocabulary-rich environments that boost reading comprehension across all content areas.

Young people are reading less and failing to build vocabulary amid a sea of text messaging and cyberchat says literacy and child development specialist Professor Tom Nicholson. It goes without saying that the best writers and speakers are often the widest read. Today’s kids have been raised on computers, iPads, and television, so it’s important to encourage them to build their vocabulary.

Across the school day, students are exposed to new vocabulary during story reading, discussions, and content area instruction. Yet, hearing or reading a new word in a single context is not the same as learning it! Students may need 5 to 20 exposures to recognize and fully understand a new word. Beyond repetition, a teacher can also expand student learning by modeling rich vocabulary and using new words in a variety of meaningful contexts.

Natalie Wexler, author of "The Knowledge Gap,” weighs in on why "Vocabulary is crucial to reading comprehension, but it can be hard to teach—especially if the words are abstract." She introduces "A promising new approach using pictures that prompt students to infer a word’s meaning."