Video Transcript
This is Brooke. She’s a kindergarten teacher, and in this video, I’m going to show you how she used research to expand her students’ vocabulary through the power of read-aloud strategies.
Hi friends, I’m Matthew Courtney, and here we talk all about education research and data. If you’re into that, make sure you like and subscribe, and come be a part of our community!
Now, let’s dive into Brooke’s story.
Brooke, like many kindergarten teachers, wanted to find a way to help her students develop stronger vocabularies. She knew that vocabulary is critical for building literacy skills, but she was looking for a method that would be both engaging and effective for her young learners.
That’s when Brooke decided to turn to education research. She began exploring studies focused on early childhood literacy and discovered a wealth of evidence supporting the use of interactive read-aloud strategies to boost vocabulary development.
The research showed that simply reading to children wasn’t enough. To truly make an impact, Brooke needed to make her read-aloud sessions more interactive—using pauses, questions, and discussions to engage her students more deeply with the words in the story. This method encouraged students to not just hear new
words, but to actively think about and use them.
With this evidence in mind, Brooke revamped her read-aloud sessions. She started by selecting books that were rich in new and interesting vocabulary words. During the read-aloud, she would pause at key moments to ask her students questions like, “What do you think this word means?” or “Can you think of another way to use this word?”
She also encouraged her students to make connections between the new words and their own experiences, which helped them retain and use the words more naturally in conversation. Over time, Brooke noticed a real difference. Her students began using the new vocabulary words during playtime, in their writing, and in their conversations with each other.
The research-backed read-aloud strategies weren’t just building their vocabulary—they were fostering a love for language.
But the real success came when Brooke’s students began to take ownership of their learning. They started asking more questions during storytime and even pointing out new words they encountered in other books. By empowering her students to engage with language in a meaningful way, Brooke wasn’t just teaching them new words—she was setting them up for long-term success in literacy.
Brooke’s story is a powerful example of how applying evidence-based strategies can transform learning, even in the youngest students. By using research to guide her teaching, she created a classroom environment where students were excited about language and eager to learn.
Whether you’re a kindergarten teacher or working with older students, the key is to rely on research and implement strategies that are proven to work. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about making small, meaningful changes that lead to big results.
If you found value in this story, don’t forget to like and subscribe, and be sure to check out the other videos on my channel. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time!
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