Investment: $299 - Content Available July 1
Great vocabulary instruction doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does need to be intentional. This course helps teachers build a vocabulary approach that sticks, combining research-backed strategies with flexible routines you can actually use. From selecting Tier 2 words to integrating roots, affixes, and etymology, we’ll walk through what to teach, how to teach it, and how to make it part of your daily rhythm.
You’ll leave with:
🔹 A draft pacing plan for key vocabulary, roots, and affixes
🔹 A model weekly word list + sample lesson
🔹 Strategies for choosing Tier 2 words from your class texts
🔹 Practical options for introducing new words, daily practice, and assessment
🔹 Hands-on experience with the Daily Practice questioning model
Chapters:
Chapter 1: Why Write Your Own Vocabulary Textbook?
Chapter 2: Selecting and Sequencing Tier 2 Words
Chapter 3: Finding and Sequencing Words from Whole-Class Novels
Chapter 4: Teaching Affixes and Word Roots in Context
Chapter 5: Building the Textbook, Part 1: Syllabification and Definitions
Chapter 6: Building the Textbook, Part 2: Related Words and Example Sentences
Chapter 7:Teaching the Textbook: Planning for Launch
Chapter 8: Daily Practice and Retrieval Routines
Chapter 9: Assessment Dos and Don't's
Chapter 10: Closing and Next Steps
Course Facilitators
Chris Cunningham
With over 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership, Chris has taught in middle and high school settings. He began his career as an MYP Language A teacher and an MYP Curriculum Coordinator before leaving the IB world to become a middle school division head and academic dean in schools in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Five years ago, Chris returned to the classroom where he now teaches 6th and 7th grade English and serves as an instructional coach. He is passionate about developing innovative and engaging curricula and empowering teachers to build their own materials to more precisely fit the needs and goals of the students they teach.