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Winter Words of Wonder: A JOYcabulary Book Pairing for January
January’s JOYcabulary pairing celebrates winter from two angles: the pure play of a snowball fight and the quiet magic—and real science—of a snowstorm. With child-friendly definitions, accountable talk prompts, and easy extensions, these two read-alouds help students notice craft moves, collect vivid “winter words,” and build knowledge through wonder.
Ring in the New Year with Words: Reclaiming the Power of Read Alouds in 2026
A new year invites reflection, intention, and renewal—even in the middle of a busy school year. As educators and caregivers navigate the Science of Reading, it’s time to pause and ask: what might we be leaving behind? In this January Tip of the Month, Linda reminds us of the unmatched power of daily interactive read alouds to strengthen vocabulary, background knowledge, language comprehension, and joy. With just 15–20 minutes a day, we can reweave the full rope of literacy and bring warmth, meaning, and connection into the winter months.
Pacing a Longer Read Aloud or a Text Set With a Vocabulary Intermission
Bring vocabulary to life with Growing Home by Beth Ferry — a magical, humorous read-aloud that models word consciousness and the power of belonging. This Grades 3–5 lesson plan offers ready-to-use vocabulary lists, pacing guides, and discussion prompts to help students fall in love with language while exploring what it means to call a place “home.” Download the full lesson plan and discover how to turn every word into an opportunity for JOYful learning.
The Gift of Words
Jerome is looking forward to collecting words this holiday season! Words of hope, love, and joy to share with his loved ones. But as he begins his search, he discovers that inspirational words are hard to come by. In the end, Jerome finds a way to connect with his community and join together in sharing the greatest gift of all: the gift of words.
Secret Gratitude Givers: A Simple Family Game to Encourage Kindness and Gratitude
Bring calm and connection to your holidays with Secret Gratitude Givers — a joyful family game that teaches children to show kindness, gratitude, and appreciation. Perfect for Thanksgiving, vacations, or anytime your family needs a reset.
Gathering Gratitude: Teaching Thankfulness Through Story and Community
Bring gratitude and community to your classroom with these JOYcabulary lesson plans for Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora and Gather Grateful by Megan Litwin. Students explore kindness, sharing, and thankfulness through rich Tier 2 vocabulary, guided reading prompts, and creative writing extensions. These paired texts make it easy to teach gratitude and empathy while building vocabulary and comprehension in the elementary classroom—perfect for fall literacy units or Thanksgiving-themed lessons.
Lift the Level of a K-2 Lesson Plan to Grades 3-5
This post shows Grades 3-5 teachers how to elevate a K-2 vocabulary lesson by choosing more precise, descriptive words about a text rather than simply lifting words from it. A simple shift in word selection leads to stronger character analysis and more meaningful conversations.
Building Vocabulary at Home: Simple Strategies for Growing Word Knowledge
Vocabulary Matters! This post gives you 3 quick tips for learning new words and ways you can build vocabulary text sets at home around topics your family loves (like an upcoming trip to Boston!).
Vocabulary Notebooks: A Workbench for Word Learning
Vocabulary Notebooks are more than a list of words — they’re a playground for language. In this post, we’ll explore how students in Grades 3 and up can use these notebooks to organize, analyze, and play with words. From exploring shades of meaning to building word networks, Vocabulary Notebooks encourage curiosity, creativity, and ownership of vocabulary learning.
Building Knowledge with Topical Text Sets
Topical text sets are powerful tools for boosting comprehension and vocabulary in nonfiction reading and writing. By curating related texts around one topic, teachers can build background knowledge, increase engagement, and help students tackle complex informational texts with confidence. This post explores what topical text sets are, why they work, and how to use them effectively in your classroom.
Stir Up Some Magic With Powerful Words
Discover creative ways to celebrate words with a Halloween twist! “Magic Words” go beyond manners — they help students of all ages express empathy, describe characters, and connect with deeper themes. Try these classroom activities to turn your vocabulary lessons into something truly magical.
Growing Home: Sparking Word JOY Through Vocabulary and Story
Bring vocabulary to life with Growing Home by Beth Ferry — a magical, humorous read-aloud that models word consciousness and the power of belonging. This Grades 3–5 lesson plan offers ready-to-use vocabulary lists, pacing guides, and discussion prompts to help students fall in love with language while exploring what it means to call a place “home.” Download the full lesson plan and discover how to turn every word into an opportunity for JOYful learning.
Book Pairing: Bringing Home’s Love to School
Welcome the new school year with a focus on home and love. This post highlights three thought-provoking picture books—Home and Love by Matt de la Peña and When Love is More Than Words by Jocelyn Chung—that remind educators and families how comfort, safety, and empathy help children transition back to school. Discover ways to weave care and belonging into classroom routines and spark meaningful conversations about resilience, community, and the many forms of love.
Vocabulary Word Walls
Traditional word walls often become static classroom displays, but vocabulary word walls can be powerful tools for learning. Discover how organizing words by topic, incorporating visuals, and involving students in creating interactive word walls can strengthen vocabulary knowledge and help students make meaningful connections between words.
