ABSTRACT
Early literacy acquisition is fundamental to school success and long-term social, vocational, and economic adjustment. Many students, including a growing percentage of diverse learners, depend largely on the quality of instruction in the early primary grades to develop the literacy skills needed for school success. The importance of early reading and writing instruction has been heavily publicized. In contrast, vocabulary development, although clearly recognized, has not received the same degree of instructional attention as other literacy skills. After all, “vocabulary development” is not an academic subject like reading, mathematics, and science. However, although vocabulary development pervades every subject from reading to mathematics to physical education, it is difficult to isolate for instructional purposes. Still, a lucid argument can be made for a much more active and vigorous educational commitment to increasing the vocabulary growth of diverse learners who often experience vocabulary problems and delays.
