Wise teachers realize what common sense and experts remind us, that a large vocabulary is an
asset for students. Words stand for concepts and are basic units for storing sound (phonemes) and
meaning (morphemes) in memory. Vocabulary is “…the glue that holds stories, ideas and content
together” (Rupley, Logan & Nichols, 1999, p. 339). Conventional wisdom tells us that vocabulary
knowledge builds self-esteem and confidence. Research and theory tell us also that vocabulary
knowledge: