Vocabulary System Adds Differentiated Instruction

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Curriculum developer Dynamic Literacy has expanded its WordBuild Elements vocabulary building system with the introduction of new materials to provide differentiated instruction for students who are either lagging or excelling.

The WordBuild Vocabulary Development System is a morphics-based, spiraling vocabulary curriculum for students in grades 2 through 12. The Elements series, a part of this system, is targeted toward students moving beyond phonics and into textual knowledge acquisition, focusing on helping students to determine meaning from words based on the building blocks (Latin and Greek morphemes) that make up those words.

The new differentiated instruction content is provided through an online component. It offers online activities at the Novice and Expert levels, designed to allow teachers to "introduce a vocabulary activity to the entire class, yet offer students differentiated instruction based on their individual skill levels," according to the company.

"I use Elements every day with my remedial students to help them improve their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills," said Melanie Blakeney, reading specialist at Warrenton Middle School, part of Fauquier County Public Schools, in a statement released this week. "Unlike word lists, which promote memorization, Elements teaches my students the meanings of words in context, with activities that are tailored to help them grow from their individual instruction level."

Elements is designed for students in grades 5 through 9 and remedial students in grades 10 through 12 for vocabulary instruction intervention. It includes a student activity book with a year's worth of exercises and software that allows educators to create customizable quizzes for their students. Printable exercises are also available through an online component. Elements is available in three levels. Volume prices start at $5.95 for individual student activity books and $99 per teacher for software and instructional materials.

Further information, including samples, can be found here.

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About the author: David Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's online education technology publications, including THE Journal and Campus Technology. He can be reached at [email protected].

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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