Chapter 1. How the common core has changed the rules of the game forever (even if the standards go away)
Big ambition: Vocabulary in the context of all the ELA standards
Vocabulary in the context of complex text reading
The lesson structure: 10 to 15 minutes a day
The big 10 approach to reading words closely
The big 10 and the common core vocabulary standards
Chapter 2. Ten short lessons for the big 10
Laying out the lessons for the Big 10
Chapter 3: Figurative language
Helping students not to be cowed by figurative language
Guidelines for reading poetry
Using discussions to interpret figurative language
Three reproducibles for discussing and writing about poems
Discussions on class blogs
Chapter 4: Getting to the root of words
What the common core state standards have to say
Review lessons on prefixes and suffixes
A five-day routine for teaching roots
How to link the lessons to students' reading
More strategies that use roots, prefixes, and suffixes
Chapter 5: General academic and domain-specific vocabulary
The CCR anchor standards for reading
Quick recap: How the lessons in this book address the anchor standards
Four categories of academic vocabulary
The best use of word lists
Why general academic vocabulary is key
Basic elements of general academic vocabulary lessons
Lessons for teaching general academic words
Chapter 6: Assessing vocabulary
So how are they reading complex texts?
Informative assessment and responsive teaching
Why final tests are problematic
Gathering data throughout the lessons
Making instructional decisions and modifications
Introducing lessons: The first day
Practicing the lessons: Second and possibly third days
Applying the lessons: Completing written work
How to scaffold and reteach
Concluding thoughts on vocabulary instruction
Ten ways students can expand their vocabularies.
