Word Learning Strategies (WLS)

Word Learning Strategies (WLS) is a supplementary curriculum designed to develop upper-elementary students' vocabulary acquisition skills to improve reading comprehension, particularly for English learners and students from low-income backgrounds. The program teaches students to use context clues, word parts, and dictionaries to learn the meanings of unknown words, with Spanish-speaking English learners receiving additional instruction in using cognates and all English learners receiving instruction in recognizing idioms. WLS provides 15 weeks of whole-class instruction delivered three days per week for about 30 minutes per day, plus additional web-based remedial lessons for students who need more practice, three web-based lessons on Spanish cognates for Spanish-speaking English learner students, and three web-based lessons on idioms for all English learners. The program uses teacher-led direct explanation with constructivist elements and includes online tutorials and videos to prepare teachers, a detailed teacher manual with day-by-day lesson plans, presentation materials, student activity books, quizzes, and tests. Teachers participated in approximately 3 hours of professional development provided by WestEd before implementation.