Bringing Words to Life

Robust Vocabulary Instruction

By: Isabel L. Beck PhD, Margaret G. McKeown PhD, Linda Kucan PhD

Narrated by: Mary Conway

Hundreds of thousands of teachers have used this highly practical guide to help K-12 students enlarge their vocabulary and get involved in noticing, understanding, and using new words.

Grounded in research, the book explains how to select words for instruction, introduce their meanings, and create engaging learning activities that promote both word knowledge and reading comprehension. The authors are trusted experts who draw on extensive experience in diverse classrooms and schools. Sample lessons, vignettes (engagingly read by both adult and child narrators), children's literature suggestions, and "Your Turn" learning activities enhance the book's utility as a classroom resource, professional development tool, or course text. A companion Study Guide for teachers can be downloaded and printed.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 The Guilford Press (P)2023 The Guilford Press

Critic reviews

"One of the 10 Books Every Teacher Should Read”

"Bringing Words to Life is, without doubt, one of the best and most influential books ever published on the topic of teaching and developing vocabulary. The second edition is even better than the first—it addresses recent issues such as the Common Core and RTI; provides a greater number of helpful, practical examples; addresses vocabulary and writing; takes on the challenge of providing effective vocabulary instruction for struggling readers and English learners; and offers guidance for teaching math, science, and social studies vocabulary in the intermediate grades. This book should be required reading for anyone seeking teacher or reading specialist certification."—John Pikulski, PhD, Department of Educational Development (Emeritus), University of Delaware

"This is a book teachers will read, reread, and refer to many times to nurture a love of language through joyful, robust vocabulary instruction. The authors' research-based insights and advice about selecting words and systematically presenting them to learners from all backgrounds are both practical and manageable. Teachers will delight in nurturing a language-rich classroom where students revel in language, read better and deeper, speak effectively, and write with purpose and clarity."—Mary Anne Rossbach, MEd, sixth-grade teacher, Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools

"It's hard to believe, but the second edition of Bringing Words to Life is even more comprehensive than the first. Beck, McKeown, and Kucan have outdone themselves. Containing real-life examples and easy-to-implement strategies, this book is a 'must have' for vocabulary instruction. It will help teachers greatly as they work to meet the Common Core Standards."—Nancy Betler, EdD, Talent Development Facilitator, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina; Adjunct Professor, School of Graduate and Continuing Education, Wingate University