Next Steps in Literacy - Vocabulary Instruction and Practice Activities

If you’ve ever felt like vocabulary instruction turns into worksheet after worksheet… you’re not alone. It can start to feel a little heavy. And honestly? Not all that effective.But here’s the good news. Vocabulary can be one of the easiest ways to boost comprehension… when we approach it differently.In this episode, we’re digging into why vocabulary matters so much. Especially in those early years. The research around kindergarten vocabulary and later reading success is pretty eye-opening. And it really makes you think about how we’re using our instructional time.We talk about what this looks like in real classrooms. How do we move beyond memorizing word lists and start building real understanding?You’ll hear ideas for both explicit and implicit vocabulary instruction. Simple ways to introduce words, revisit them, and actually help them stick. Whether you’re in early elementary or working with older students, these are the kinds of routines you can use right away.We also spend some time on tiered vocabulary. Because choosing the right words makes a big difference. When you focus on meaningful, high-impact words from your content, you’re not just filling up a word wall. You’re helping students make connections and understand what they’re reading on a deeper level.And the activities? So doable.Think acting out words. Keeping simple vocabulary notebooks. Using visuals so every learner can access meaning. Small shifts that make a big impact.If you love word work, you’ll especially enjoy the conversation around morphology. Prefixes. Suffixes. Greek and Latin roots. These give students tools to figure out new words on their own. And once that clicks… it’s a game changer.We also share some favorite classroom ideas like word mapping, picture sorts, and our “word wizard” system to keep things engaging and fun.And of course, we talk about how all of this supports multilingual learners and strengthens overall literacy development.This episode is full of practical ways to make vocabulary instruction feel lighter, more meaningful, and way more effective.Because when vocabulary grows… comprehension follows. Every time. 💛YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG THE BOOK STUDY (AFFILIATE LINK):⁠Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction: Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions Second Edition, New edition⁠Where can you find us?Hilary Statum: ⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠Deedee Wills: ⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/