Teaching Academic Vocabulary, Grades K-12 - No. 301

A Marzano-aligned 20-hour online companion course, based on the publications Building Academic Vocabulary and Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools (Marzano & Pickering). Teaching academic vocabulary is the best way to build comprehension, reading fluency, and fundamental academic knowledge. Such systemic approaches have been proven to increase student capacity by strengthening their own vocabulary and knowledge base. This comprehensive approach becomes particularly powerful when implemented district-wide. Participants will be introduced to effective and research-based design of comprehensive approaches to academic vocabulary for immediate classroom implementation.

Course Outcomes:

1. Understand several models of vocabulary building, along with the research and rationale behind it.
2. Design comprehensive lessons with embedded approaches to teaching academic vocabulary.
3. Implement lessons and reflect on them to modify and differentiate effectively for individual classrooms.
4. Utilize an on-going support system for implementation of district, school, and classroom approaches to effective academic vocabulary instruction.