Vocabulary is one of the essential components of reading instruction, but it is sometimes neglected as it can be tricky. How can effective vocabulary instruction be squeezed in to an already limited schedule? Which words are the best words to teach? How many new words do students need to learn in a year?

In The Science of Reading: Building Comprehension and Writing Through Vocabulary, literacy specialist William Van Cleave leads our discussion on vocabulary and best practices that can strengthen reading and writing skills. The topics covered in this course range from the development of vocabulary and how it affects reading and writing to choosing and teaching words in a way that will benefit all students.

Building Comprehension and Writing Through Vocabulary is the ninth course in the eighteen-hour Science of Reading learning path. It was recorded on March 2, 2019 at the Main Library in Little Rock, Arkansas.