Word Learning Strategies (WLS) Program: Teaching Word Learning Strategies to Improve Vocabulary Skills and Reading Comprehension among Elementary School Students, particularly English Learners and Students from Low-Income Backgrounds

Word Learning Strategies (WLS) is a supplemental program for teaching word learning strategies intended to target vocabulary skills and reading comprehension in elementary school students, particularly those with high numbers of English learners and students from low-income backgrounds. The WLS program includes a set of practical, research-based, and theoretically sound strategies for inferring the meanings of unknown words that students encounter while reading. The program prepares teachers to teach word learning strategies and to explain to students why the strategies are important for reading. The program is composed of 15 weeks of whole-class instruction, an additional 22 remedial web-based lessons for students who need more practice, three web-based lessons on Spanish cognates for Spanish-speaking English learners, and three web-based lessons on idioms for all English learners. The whole-class instruction is delivered three days a week for about 30 minutes per day throughout the 15-week period.