Grades
PreK - 3
When it comes to your students’ reading success, building vocabulary is a critical component. The new words you teach your early readers today not only lay the groundwork for boosting reading comprehension in the future, they also help make reading more accessible and even more enjoyable.
Kim Bollinger, a first-grade teacher in North Dakota, often chooses nonfiction books with strong visual elements to introduce her students to new vocabulary. She then encourages them to use those new words in their writing. “Sometimes my class will write new vocabulary words and main ideas from a book on a sticky note and put on the board,” says Bollinger. “We will classify the Post-Its into different headings and write a report-style piece using new vocabulary words.”
Bollinger loves books from the National Geographic Kids Readers series, which highlight and define new words. One of her favorites is about penguins. “I love the vivid pictures of many different kinds of penguins doing different things,” she says. “There are headings for different main topics about penguins. It makes this book easy to divide up and read parts at a time, which is helpful when working with littles.”
Check out these best-selling books under $5 for grades preK-2.
Another go-to vocabulary-building book for Bollinger is The Way I Feel, which doubles as a great social-emotional learning tool. “It is important for kids to know these words so they can correctly express how they are feeling and deal with their feelings in a positive way,” she says.
When it comes to building her early readers’ vocabulary, Kathy Sahagian, a first-grade teacher in California, favors inspiring books loaded with important vocabulary her students may not have yet encountered in their reading. One of her favorites is The Word Collector, which she says shows her students just how important learning new vocabulary really is.
“I want my students to be word collectors as they read,” says Sahagian. “The way in which they can do this is by making a list of words they do not know. They can use a Post-It note or write new vocabulary words in a journal.”
Shop all top books and series for building vocabulary below. You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter's snowy landscape in this magical book.
Photographs and simple text explore the variety of animals that have adapted to life in the Arctic. These unique science readers offer simple text and vivid color photographs that help children develop vital background knowledge.
What floats and why?
Learn all about the frigid oceans.
Wake up with Peter to a snow-covered day where adventure awaits. No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day.
How do you make things go?
This colorful pre-reader uses simple vocabulary and fun pictures to capture the interest and help develop the skills of beginning readers. The fun informative facts about one of kids' favorite creatures make this new reading experience a treat.
Learn all about germs when Ms. Frizzle's class takes another exciting field trip!
Ruby Bridges was born during the time of segregation in the South. In 1960, she made history when she attended an all-white school. Follow her story and learn why we still celebrate her courage today.
This endearing tale speaks loudly and clearly about learning new things and the love that unites family members - no matter how far apart they may live.
March this way, and meet the adorable stars of National Geographic's March of the Penguins film.
It's time for a field trip! Fly Guy and Buzz are going to the White House. With straightforward text, humorous asides, and kid-friendly, full-bleed photographs throughout, young readers will love learning about the presidents and their famous house.
This book explains how the increase in human population has put animal habitats and the creatures that live in them at risk, and argues that measures should be taken to protect animals and the places they live.
Emphasizing the joys of self-expression, this read-aloud spotlights Jerome, a little boy learning to delight in language.
