The Vocabulary Playbook: Learning Words That Matter, K-12

by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey

Concepts, conversation, collaboration—vocabulary instruction is so much more than lists of words.


More is more when it comes to students’ vocabulary knowledge, and in The Vocabulary Playbook, educators in K-12 get ideas for transforming all children into curious, capable word learners. The key? Put away the word-list mindset, and embrace active modeling, peer work, and independent practice.


Five modules offer direct instruction and effective routines that show how



Select and teach only the most high-utility, transferable words that are ripe for discussion
Use direct instruction to model word-solving in each content area
Teach morphology in ways that invite students to apply understandings in reading, writing, talk, and listening
Turn academic word-learning into a relevant experience with peer collaboration activities
Create a culture of word consciousness by emphasizing concepts, modeling curiosity, and offering "low-risk" routines that make it okay to not yet know

Intentional vocabulary instruction is critical in every grade, and in every content area. With The Vocabulary Playbook, your approach is now tactical, transparent, and fun. Whether you are an administrator executing a school-wide plan or a teacher eager for practical strategies, this is the book that will help students build academic success—word by word.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2023

About the author

Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is an educator and Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College.

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Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sought advice from a friend who is a reading specialist about the challenges my high school students are facing with vocabulary understanding in complex texts. She suggested this book as a good start for me as I’m not trained as a reading teacher and I cannot express enough how clear and helpful I found this book. It gave me some background about word study, ways to teach vocabulary instead of just assigning it, and tools to help me help my students in their studies and reading. I marked multiple pages and will implement a few ideas at the start of second semester; I’m pretty excited!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fisher & Frey never disappoint.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am using this book in a graduate class soon. I love the directness of this text and its abundance of strategies and techniques based on current research.