Why Work on Vocabulary?

Studies have shown that the number of words a child knows (not reads) upon entering kindergarten is a key indicator of future educational success. Within each of our Beyond the Book Resources, you will notice that there is a heavy emphasis on the building of vocabulary. Research has shown  that vocabulary is often the biggest predictor of success in school.

Classroom teachers will tell you the same thing. In the primary grades, it's easy to identify the students that were read to consistently and included in family conversations.  It's heartbreaking to think that something as simple as reading a book and talking about what's being read is so often ignored. The resulting academic struggles can be difficult to overcome. 
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It's our goal is to expose children not only to basic, but also more sophisticated vocabulary both in and out of  the context of a good book. The learning may begin in the story, but is truly evident when it travels beyond the book and into the realm of  everyday life.