Alexandra Guilamo

Academic Vocabulary with SPEED Alexandra Guilamo

Based on years of language acquisition and vocabulary development research, the SPEED system was developed and perfected to meet the unique needs of English language learners and struggling students. S. P. E. E. D. is an integrated framework for word learning that gives students the academic vocabulary and the lifelong habit of word consciousness that is necessary to be successful in school and beyond. This book explains the structure for deep and meaningful vocabulary instruction that is integrated across all content areas. It shows teachers an approach to help students form the daily habits of engaged and mindful reading, while working with peers to build and use their academic vocabulary in their reading, writing, speaking, and listening independently. Students do this by engaging in a variety of daily vocabulary tasks while the teacher meets with groups of students or individuals. Goal setting around the quality of word collections, reflecting on word usage, and refining their understanding of past words are critical components that work to build independence. These are just some of the ways that SPEED helps all students, especially struggling learners and ELLs, develop a love for and awareness of the power of words. The benefits of SPEED for teachers and schools include: -students develop their vocabulary base individually with words that are right for them; -less time engaged in activities that don't give students depth of learning; -the approach folds in seamlessly to district-adopted curriculums and state mandates; -improves schoolwide vocabulary acquisition; and -the same process is equally powerful across all content areas.