ABSTRACT
Word Nerds focuses on grades kindergarten through five and is ideal for teachers who have access to their students most of the school day. Students at the middle level are also different from elementary students in significant ways as they grow physically, emotionally, psychologically, and socially. While teachers of students in grades five through nine may understand that vocabulary is important, they often need to know more about how to teach students to become word learners beyond assigning vocabulary lists to memorize each week. The snow and subzero temperatures would not let up, and faculties struggled to maintain a routine with anything, much less unfamiliar vocabulary instruction. In the face of extreme challenges, dedicated teachers at these schools still found ways to thoughtfully incorporate vocabulary instruction and assessment. Teachers planned instruction to meet standards and tried creative and motivating activities with their students in varied subject areas.
