The Literacy Connection
Issue 7: April/May 2026
Dear Educators,
I can’t believe we are already at the end of another school year. If you have elementary kids of your own or if you're an elementary teacher, I like to think of this time as the “Season of Permission Slips.” Field trips, field days, classroom celebrations—so many of the joyful moments of elementary school seem to arrive all at once. It’s a wonderful reminder of how fleeting these years are for our students and for us.
It’s also a season of change. The trees are shifting from winter to spring, and the Chicago-land weather reminds us what it’s like to experience every season in a single week! In schools, change is in the air too. Many of you are preparing to move to a new classroom, a new grade level, or even a new building. Some of you may be stepping into entirely new adventures next year.
I know firsthand how difficult change can be. Leaving my classroom was one of the scariest decisions I’ve ever made. But as I sit here writing my seventh newsletter and reflecting on the opportunity I’ve had to work with so many thoughtful and inspiring educators, I know I wouldn’t be here without that change.
In March, I had the honor of speaking at and attending the SLD Support Project’s annual conference. Suzanne Dailey, one of the keynote speakers, shared something that really stayed with me: “I’m tired of people saying teachers are superheroes. We’re real people with real emotions.”
It made me pause. I’ve certainly called teachers superheroes before.
But she’s right.
Maybe it's time to hang up the capes and instead, put on raincoats and rain boots—because every day we step into unpredictable weather. Some days are bright and sunny, and other days bring storms we didn’t see coming. Yet you show up anyway, prepared to walk alongside your students no matter what the forecast holds.
As we close out the year, I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of you who reads this newsletter and continues to do this important work. I’ve loved sharing vocabulary resources with you this year—in fact, I think I could probably write another entire year just on vocabulary!
For this final issue, I have a few more great resources to share. And to give you a small sneak peek: next year we’ll be shifting gears toward oracy and possibly some writing frameworks.
Thank you for the work you do every day. It is an honor to support educators like you.
Wishing you a wonderful end to the school year and a restful, rejuvenating summer!
Happy Reading,
Joy Kamp
Literacy Instructional Coach
Missed last month’s issue? Click here to read it.
If you’re anything like me, you probably grew up reading Amelia Bedelia books. My personal favorite was Amelia Bedelia and the Baby.
At the time, I didn’t realize it, but those stories were introducing me to something called "Word Play," or humor built around multiple meanings, idioms, and literal versus figurative language.
Research shows that word play helps students build vocabulary because it draws attention to how language works.
When students notice that words can have multiple meanings, figurative uses, and flexible structures, they begin to develop deeper word knowledge. This kind of playful engagement with language also supports morphological awareness and semantic flexibility, both of which are strongly connected to vocabulary growth and reading comprehension.
Simply put, word play encourages students to think about words more closely and remember them more easily.
Books that feature word play make excellent read-alouds for vocabulary development.
Read-alouds don’t always have to be at students’ independent reading levels—in fact, reading texts above grade level can expose students to richer language, more complex sentence structures, and new vocabulary they might not encounter in their own reading yet.
When we pause to talk about the humor, double meanings, and interesting word choices, we give students valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding of language. Plus, it's fun!
Here are a few recommendations for word play books from Dr. Amy Elleman, researcher and professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Many of these can also be found on YouTube to preview before purchasing.
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
Word Play by Ivan Brunetti
Lexie the Word Wrangler by Rebecca Van Slyke
The Great Dictionary Caper by Judy Sierra
How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? By Brian P. Cleary
E-MERGENCY! by Tom Lichtenheld
The Not-So-Lazy Schwa by Yvette Manns
The Overly Controlling Bossy R by Yvette Manns
The Very Busy Letter Y by Yvette Manns
The Not-So-Spooky Silent Letters by Yvette Manns
The Very Special Heart Words by Yvette Manns
The Very Helpful Floss Rule by Yvette Manns
Getting Students to Talk About Language
Semantic word gradients are a powerful tool for getting students to talk about language. The more students talk about and use words, the stronger their vocabulary becomes.
A semantic word gradient looks like a ladder (vertical or horizontal works). One word sits at the bottom, and another at the top; students must determine where related words fit on the scale.
For example, the bottom word might be jump and the top word vault. Students are given a word bank:
- hop, leap, pounce, and spring
Students must discuss where each word belongs on the ladder. In other words, how do you move from jump to vault?
This strategy can also work well with opposite words, helping students think about how meaning shifts across a continuum.
I love this strategy because it:
- Helps broaden and deepen students’ understanding of related words
- Encourages students to recognize shades of meaning
- Strengthens vocabulary so students can be more precise in speaking and writing
- Builds word-learning skills and curiosity about language
- Gets students talking!
Another benefit is that semantic gradients work at any grade level and any disciplinary literacy—you simply adjust the complexity of the words.
This activity works best during whole-class discussion, partner work, or small groups, where the focus is on students talking, reasoning, and using the words in authentic conversation.
Remember, strategies like this are most impactful when embedded with explicit instruction (I do, we do, you do) and discussion, rather than used as standalone worksheets for students to fill out.
*Photo credit and example: Dr. Amy Elleman
How Are You Peeling?
Bring on the Birds
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
Lemons Are Not Red
Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words
Exactly the Opposite
Teaching Words and How They Work: Small Changes for Big Vocabulary Results
Written by Elfrieda H. Hiebert
Research shows that vocabulary knowledge strongly supports students’ comprehension of both narrative and informational texts. While instruction often focuses on a few target words from a specific text, students also need to understand how words work in order to navigate complex reading.
In Teaching Words and How They Work, an award-winning reading researcher shares practical ways teachers can strengthen vocabulary instruction through small but meaningful changes. The book offers strategies for using word walls more intentionally, selecting important words from informational texts, and engaging students in rich word learning conversations. With classroom examples and research-based guidance, it provides K–8 teachers with actionable ideas to help students grow their vocabulary across any reading program.
I Morph, We Morph, You Morph: Common Prefixes
Written by Heather Ballantine
"Build Vocabulary and Discover the Power of Prefixes"
I Morph, We Morph, You Morph: Common Prefixes invites students to join Taylor and Owl on imaginative adventures while learning how prefixes shape word meaning. Through engaging stories and colorful illustrations, readers are introduced to 20 common prefixes that help unlock the meaning of unfamiliar and academic words.
Each prefix is clearly explained and supported with examples, helping students understand how word parts work together. Designed for grades 2–6, the book also includes a glossary, instructional strategies, and a graphic organizer to reinforce learning. It’s a flexible resource that works well for both read-alouds and independent reading while strengthening vocabulary and comprehension.
Article: Why Vocabulary Matters
Written by Tim Rasinski
In this article, Rasinski discusses the power of vocabulary, including why it matters, how many words a reader truly needs to know, and what this means for disciplinary literacy.
June 1-July 23 (Virtual)
This research-based microcredential, developed by the SLD Support Project in collaboration with InnerDrive, provides educators with practical strategies grounded in the Science of Learning.
- The course combines asynchronous and synchronous virtual learning, with participants completing two 60–90 minute modules every two weeks, followed by a 90-minute facilitated discussion session.
Across eight modules and four synchronous sessions, educators reflect on instructional practices and explore how Science of Learning principles support student achievement. To earn the microcredential, participants complete a final reflection demonstrating classroom implementation of one learning principle and an aligned instructional strategy.
June 4-July 16 (Virtual)
"Join us for a collaborative book study of the Illinois Dyslexia Handbook designed to deepen understanding and strengthen support for students with dyslexia. In this series, participants will explore chapters of the handbook, examine practical guidance for identification and instruction, and discuss how the recommendations can be applied in real classroom and school contexts. Through structured reflection and discussion, educators will build a shared knowledge around evidence-based literacy practices, assessment, and intervention to better support students across all tiers of instruction."
Test Your Knowledge!
Congratulations to Issue 6's winner of the $25 Amazon gift card, Kristen Rottmann, 3rd Grade Teacher, in Manhattan!
She correctly answered “Horace Mann" to the question: Who is considered the "Father of Standardized Testing"?
Thank you to everyone who participated this year! Look for another round of trivia in August!