What First Grade Teachers Reveal About Vocabulary Instruction: Aligning Instruction to the Common Core State Standards

This mixed methods study examined the vocabulary knowledge and instructional practices of four grade 1 teachers in order to better understand how prepared teachers are to implement the First Grade English Language Arts Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Data collected included an audiotaped semi-structured interview, a teacher survey, video-recorded class vocabulary instruction, researcher field notes, and artifacts of class activities. Findings indicate that teaching experience is not a factor in the level of vocabulary instruction teachers provide. For example, veteran teachers in the analysis rely on traditional spelling tests and basal based vocabulary instruction to teach vocabulary, while the less experienced teachers utilize trade books to guide their instruction. However, veteran teachers provide vocabulary instruction daily, while less experienced teachers did not. Findings suggest that all teachers would benefit from professional learning opportunities related to vocabulary instruction and researchers are encouraged to investigate vocabulary instruction and its alignment to the CCSS with larger sample sizes in other districts and across all grade levels.