The Real Power of Vocabulary: From Words to Understanding

When students don’t know 90–95% of the words in a text, even strong readers struggle to understand what they’re reading. But when they do understand those words, reading becomes more than decoding — it becomes discovery.

In this video, you’ll learn:

✅ Why vocabulary is central to reading comprehension

✅ What happens in the brain when kids connect words to meaning

✅ Simple, research-backed ways to teach and reinforce vocabulary

✅ How parents can spot vocabulary weaknesses and build word curiosity at home

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or advocate for struggling readers, this video will help you see vocabulary for what it really is — the language of thought and understanding.

🧠 Key takeaway: Vocabulary turns reading from work into wonder. When children fall in love with words, they don’t just become better readers — they become better thinkers.

📚 References:

• Stahl & Nagy (2006)

• Nagy & Scott (2000)

• Embers & Denton (2008)