How can teachers promote vocabulary growth in students?

Promoting vocabulary growth in students is best achieved through a multifaceted approach that includes direct instruction, engaging conversations, and exposure to a variety of texts. Providing direct instruction allows teachers to explicitly teach new words, their meanings, and their usages in context, which enables students to understand and retain vocabulary better. Engaging students in conversations helps reinforce learning through practical application and discussion, encouraging them to use new vocabulary in meaningful ways. Exposure to diverse texts—such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts—introduces students to new words in various contexts, enhancing their understanding and ability to use these words in different situations. This holistic approach is much more effective than limiting resources or strategies, as it fosters a rich learning environment that supports vocabulary acquisition and application.