Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools [Paperback]

Robert J. Marzano (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0871209721 | ISBN-13: 978-0871209726 | Publication Date: August 2004

In Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement, Robert J. Marzano shows how a carefully structured combination of two approaches--sustained silent reading and instruction in subject-specific vocabulary terms--can help overcome the deficiencies in background knowledge that hamper the achievement of many children.

Readers will learn
* The principles that underlie an effective sustained silent reading program
* A five-step process for using sustained silent reading to enhance background knowledge
* The defining characteristics of effective vocabulary instruction
* A six-step process for direct instruction in vocabulary in each discipline
* The vocabulary terms critical to students’ success in every academic subject

Vignettes suggest how the recommended reading and vocabulary instruction programs might be implemented in elementary schools, middle and junior high schools, and high schools. The book also includes a list of 7,923 vocabulary terms culled from the national standards documents and other publications, organized into 11 subject areas and 4 grade-level categories.

With its research-based recommendations and step-by-step approach, Building Background Knowledge equips educators with the tools they need to help close the achievement gap and enable all students to succeed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Deve (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871209721
• ISBN-13: 978-0871209726
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dual Language, June 10, 2005

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Learning Teacher (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools (Paperback)

As a dual-language elementary teacher it is important that I teach my students the meaning of specific words in the subjects they have to learn in order to get the meaning. This book allows me to concentrate on the meaning, context and usage of words in the different subjects I teach rather than having to look for the words and then do what I described. It has also helped me build a stronger vocabulary and made me a better teacher for my students.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Organized into 11 subject areas and 4 grade-level categories, October 10, 2004

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools (Paperback)

Building Background Knowledge For Academic Achievement: Research On What Works In Schools by Robert J. Marzano (Senior Scholar, Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning, Aurora, Colorado and Associate Professor, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) discusses how two combined approaches - sustained silent reading and careful study of subject-specific vocabulary terms - can help young adults overcome weaknesses in background knowledge that would otherwise undermine their educational pursuits, from elementary to high school. In addition to the outlined principles for a sustained silent reading program, and effective vocabulary instruction, over 7,923 actual vocabulary terms have been culled for presentation from national standards documents and other publications, organized into 11 subject areas and 4 grade-level categories. A superb home schooling, self-study, or curriculum supplementary guide, highly recommended for parents, educators, tutors, and studious individuals seeking to hone the tools that maximize their comprehension skills.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About the Only Thing That Has Made Sense to Me, October 15, 2008

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C. Trinkle "two point oh librarian" (suburb of Indianapolis) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools (Paperback)

There are so many trends right now as the pendulum is swinging franticly in a direction that doesn't make sense to me. NCLB, Put Reading First, and the National Reading Panel have about killed reading. Emphasizing low level skill work will not lead to increased reading comprehension. It used to be kids came in my library screaming for whatever subject they were studying in class: penguins! spiders! tornadoes! firemen! etc. Those days are over because they are doing basic skill work in class. Now, they come in not knowing what to checkout. Most do not finish reading the books they check out. Our nonfiction circulation has declined in the past 3 years. Reading Building Background Knoweldge proves why we need more reading in schools...it leads to increased vocabulary which leads to increased reading comprhension. This is a highly readable, enlightening, and affirming book from one of the most important educators of our day.