Many elementary students today have a reading and speaking vocabulary far below what is expected and necessary for their grade level. For the Love of Words offers teachers a practical and systematic instructional framework for helping students overcome “the vocabulary gap” so they can succeed academically, especially in reading comprehension. Unlike conventional “skill and drill” instruction, this approach helps students understand why a strong vocabulary is so critical for their success in reading and writing and develop strategies for learning new words based on the best of current research.

Diane E. Paynter, Elena Bodrova, and Jane K. Doty are researchers and trainers with Mid-Continent Research in Education and Learning (McREL).