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Introduce Vocabulary: Countdown to Kindergarten (McGhee)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Budding readers will relate to Allison McGhee's story Countdown to Kindergarten in which a young girl is worried about not being able to tie her shoes once she gets to school. This is a fun way to teach vocabulary in...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Curious George Rides a Bike (Rey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Are your learners curious about new words? Take them on an adventure with Curious George as they learn vocabulary in the context of H.A. Rey's book, Curious George Rides a Bike. Prepare budding readers by introducing the terms...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Dandelion (Freeman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dandelion the lion is dapper and elegant; young readers learn these and more vocabulary words as they read Don Freeman's story Dandelion (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book). Familiarize pupils with the new words...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Dinosaur Bones (Barner)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dig into some prehistoric vocabulary in Bob Barner's informative book Dinosaur Bones. This works best if you introduce the primitive words before reading the story. These are the focus terms in the text: ancient, climate, extinct,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Doctor DeSoto (Steig)

For Teachers K - 3rd
William Steig's story of a witty mouse couple will have scholars intrigued as they listen for new vocabulary words and context clues. Doctor DeSoto can be found on YouTube in case you don't have it. Emerging readers expand...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Firefighters (Mitten)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Your budding readers know what it's like to get to a word and think, "What does that mean?" Expand their vocabulary in context using Christopher Mitten's nonfiction picture book Firefighters. Get them ready by pre-teaching the new...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin Goes to the Hospital (Bourgeois)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Franklin the turtle is on another adventure in Paulette Bourgeois' book Franklin Goes to the Hospital, and there are plenty of new words for your young readers to explore as they hear this story. Although you can include more,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: From Tadpole to Frog (Pfeffer)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Take an amphibious journey with budding readers as you explore vocabulary in Wendy Pfeffer's informative book From Tadpole to Frog. This text is the backdrop of a vocabulary exercise based on six words: fertilize,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King (Marzollo)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Looking for a vocabulary lesson relevant to MLK Day? Try this reading comprehension idea designed around Jean Marzollo's biography Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Go over new terms (freedom, justice,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride (Priceman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What a fun way to explore new vocabulary words! Marjorie Priceman's book Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride offers plenty of new words for scholars to learn in context: amateur, assembled,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: I Am Planet Earth (Marzollo)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Explore the world's beauty with Jean Marzollo's colorful book I Am Planet Earth, the context of a vocabulary study focused on the following in-text words: globe, jungle, paddy, planet, and valley. Discuss the...
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Introduce Vocabulary: "I Can't," Said the Ant (Cameron)

For Teachers K - 3rd
With both rhyme and a fun storyline, Polly Cameron's story "I Can't," Said the Ant is a useful resource for vocabulary in context. Emerging readers focus on five key words: cooperate, mend, nimble,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: I Love You the Purplest (Joosse)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use Barbara Joosse's heartwarming story I Love You the Purplest (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to practice vocabulary in context with emerging readers. This sensory text is an excellent opportunity to...
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Introduce Vocabulary: I See Animals Hiding (Arnosky)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Animals are amazing at disguise! Explore the different ways they escape view as scholars learn vocabulary-in-context through Jim Arnosky's book I See Animals Hiding. Prepare pupils to raise their hands when they hear...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Icky Bug Colors (Pallotta)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get to know the bugs around us with emerging readers who use Jerry Pallotta's informative book Icky Bug Colors to learn vocabulary in context. Address terms before reading the text aloud, preparing kids to listen for them later....
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Introduce Vocabulary: In the Small, Small Pond (Fleming)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Explore pond life and action words through Denise Fleming's In the Small, Small Pond, which you can find online if you don't have it on hand. Learners explore the following verbs: doze, hover, plunge, scatter,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Into the A, B, Sea (Rose)

For Teachers K - 3rd
As budding readers learn about the ocean, they'll get practice with the alphabet and new vocabulary words (cling, nab, prey, slumber, and thrive) in context. Read Deborah Rose's book Into the A, B, Sea, which includes a...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Julius, the Baby of the World (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Lilly is jealous when her new little brother is born; explore vocabulary in context through Kenvin Kenkes' story Julius the Baby of the World. Suggested words for this text are: constantly, disguise, disgusting,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Letting Swift River Go (Yolen)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If your class is reading Jane Yolen's Letting Swift River Go, explore these vocabulary words in context: faint, quench, remain, and sacred. Before reading the story aloud, acquaint learners with these words briefly....
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Introduce Vocabulary: Madeline's Rescue (Behelmans)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What new adventure is Madeline on now? Emerging readers expand their vocabulary in Ludwig Behelmans' story Madeline's Rescue. Although there are many words you could focus on here, five have been furnished with comprehension...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Miss Bindergarten Stays Home (Slate)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What is Miss Bindergarten up to now? Joseph Slate's story Miss Bindergarten Stays Home is an excellent resource for budding readers to practice five vocabulary words in context: advise, lesson, lovely,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: My School's a Zoo (Smith)

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Your classroom may feel like a zoo sometimes, but it's nothing like this! Stu Smith's book My School's a Zoo is an excellent way to introduce some fun vocabulary words in context, and it's available on YouTube in case...
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Introduce Vocabulary: One Hungry Monster (O'Keefe)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine counting and vocabulary practice with Susan O'Keefe's engaging story One Hungry Monster, which you can find on YouTube if needed. Introduce learners to the following in-text words: doubt, gargle, rude, swear, and...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Over in the Meadow (Keats)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you're reading the classic story Over in the Meadow, consider this strategy to cover vocabulary in context with budding readers. After a brief introduction, listeners raise a hand when they hear each word (bask,...