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Beyond Definitions: Learning Words Inside and Out
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
Presented by Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University
Sponsored by Sadlier
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Vocabulary instruction is about more than memorizing definitions—it’s about helping students truly own words so they can use them flexibly in reading, writing, and discussion. This edWebinar explores how educators can move beyond surface-level vocabulary instruction and create opportunities for students to deeply engage with words.
The goal of this presentation is to equip teachers with research-based strategies for supporting vocabulary growth that sticks. Viewers learn how to design lessons that encourage students to notice, analyze, and apply new words in meaningful contexts. We explore methods for connecting vocabulary to background knowledge, using direct instruction and word solving, and engaging students in word play and dialogue that strengthens understanding.
By viewing, educators:
- Identify the difference between surface-level word learning and deep word knowledge
- Explore practical classroom routines for making vocabulary instruction interactive and memorable
- Gain strategies for fostering curiosity and independence in students’ word learning
- Understand how vocabulary knowledge supports comprehension, writing, and academic success
Educators leave with ready-to-use ideas that make word learning engaging and purposeful, ensuring students carry new vocabulary inside—not just in their notebooks. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to middle and high school teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Dr. Douglas Fisher is Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Dr. Fisher was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is a credentialed teacher and leader in California. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published widely on literacy, quality instruction, and assessment, and has authored professional learning books such as Vocabulary Playbook, Teaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers, The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning, Your Introduction to PLC+, The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Credibility, Teaching Students to Use AI Ethically and Responsibly, and many, many more! You can learn more about Dr. Fisher, view all of his books, and access more resources at FisherandFrey.com.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
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