Research studies (including the April 2000 Report of the National Reading Panel) have shown that students' vocabulary knowledge strongly correlates with their success in reading comprehension. Give them that edge with this great new program Now you can give fourth, fifth, and sixth graders the crucial vocabulary practice they need with this three-volume curriculum--proven equally effective for English language learners or for students whose first language is English. This program uses innovative approaches to help students build a "toolbox" of skills that let them decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words with confidence. Ideal for use in classrooms that include both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking English language learners, each curriculum combines teacher-directed instruction with cooperative group learning (proved effective for teaching heterogeneous groups of students) and individual activities for reinforcement. For each grade, you'll get an age-appropriate. 18-week curriculum that takes just 30 minutes a day. Each curriculum consists of eight regular lessons that take 2 school weeks each (see sidebar) and are built around a section of a story or novel, and two review lessons that take I week each and use new activities to reinforce what students have learned. All readings are reproduced in the books, so there's no need to purchase additional material. Within each volume of the curriculum, you'll get- a step-by-step Teacher's Guide to walk you through each lesson- a range of fun and innovative activities inviting students to become "word wizards"--from peer interviews and word webs to old favorites like fill-in-the-blanks and sentence writing- cooperative groupwork that pairs English-language learners with native English speakers- vocabulary words defined in English and Spanish to aid Spanish speakers- activities that use a child's first language to bolster vocabulary and text comprehension- "teacher tips" that give you creative suggestions for engaging children with language- photocopiable pages of in-class work, homework activities, and assessments- materials developed by some of the most respected researchers and institutions (Harvard, University of California) in the countryWith this proven program, both English language learners and native English speakers will expand their knowledge of vocabulary words--and learn how to generalize the strategies they learn when they encounter new words outside the classroom.