Research-based Adult Reading Instruction, Session 2: Vocabulary and Comprehension

This workshop is the second of two, 4-hour sessions on adult reading instruction. Session 1 covers alphabetics and fluency; Session 2 covers vocabulary and comprehension. Research suggests that individual assessment and explicit instruction in these four component areas can improve reading comprehension for adults. Participants explore definitions of vocabulary and comprehension and the research basis of each; they also explore and practice instructional and assessment strategies for each component.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

Goal

The goal of this workshop is to provide assessment and instructional strategies for adult education teachers to help learners improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define vocabulary and its relationship to the four components of reading;
2. Describe five direct and indirect strategies that can be used for teaching vocabulary;
3. Explain the research basis for the strategies;
4. Define reading comprehension;
5. Identify appropriate assessments;
6. Describe four comprehension strategies.