edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinars- This event has passed.
Instructional Strategies for K-5: Building Academic Vocabulary
Monday, October 12, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Instructional Strategies for K-5: Building Academic Vocabulary
Presented by Melissa Cust, Experienced Educator, Program Supervisor, Learn It Academic Services; and Marybeth Jones, Experienced Educator, Vice President of Academic Services, Learn It Academic Services
Moderated by Nicole Magliaro, Education Manager, Learn It Academic Services
Sponsored by Learn It Academic Services
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Building academic vocabulary (BAV) has been proven to be an essential element for increasing student achievement in all subject areas. BAV strategies go far beyond the traditional method of copying definitions or writing sentences. In this edWebinar, K–5 teachers can explore practical, research-based approaches for explicitly teaching academic vocabulary and creating meaningful opportunities for students to use new words in context.
Learn strategies that promote student discussion, deeper comprehension, and transfer of vocabulary across reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use strategies they can incorporate into daily instruction to make vocabulary learning more engaging, purposeful, and lasting.
By the end of this edWebinar recording, viewers will be able to:
- Identify the importance of academic vocabulary development and its impact on student learning and achievement across content areas
- Explore research-based strategies for explicitly teaching, reinforcing, and applying academic vocabulary in K–5 classrooms
- Develop practical opportunities for students to interact with and use new vocabulary through discussion, reading, writing, and content-area learning
This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to K–5 educators.
About the Presenters
Melissa Cust is an experienced educator and Program Supervisor with Learn It Academic Services, where she supports Title I intervention programs for K–8 students. She works closely with teachers, school leaders, and families to create meaningful learning experiences that strengthen students’ confidence and academic skills. Melissa especially enjoys coaching educators, developing practical curriculum resources, and sharing research-based strategies teachers can use right away. She believes professional learning should feel encouraging, relevant, and realistic—not like one more thing added to a teacher’s plate. Melissa is excited to connect with educators through edWeb and explore engaging ways to help K–5 students understand, interact with, and confidently use academic vocabulary across content areas.
Marybeth Jones, Vice President of Academic Services at Learn It, has more than 30 years’ experience in education as a K-12 teacher and higher education professor, as well as delivering educational support services in the private sector. At Learn It, she directs all the activities of the Academic Services Team, delivering services in more than a dozen large urban districts, including LAUSD, New York City Public Schools, and Chicago Public Schools. She is responsible for day-to-day program operations. She manages resource and personnel allocations, deployment of staff, budgets, contract compliance, client partnerships, and program retention. She has conducted quality audits for academic improvement programs across the U.S. and has developed and executed Improvement Plans to ensure quality control. Marybeth holds a BS in education from Illinois State University and an MS in education in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University.
About the Moderator
Nicole Magliaro, Education Manager at Learn It Academic Services, is a second-year doctoral student in educational research with extensive experience overseeing various educational programs. With over ten years of classroom experience teaching various grades and levels of students, Nicole has designed curricula focusing on writing and literature aligned with Common Core Standards. She has developed, implemented, and assessed educational programs using research, databases, journals, and project and presentation methodologies. Nicole also conducts quality assurance visits across Learn It’s programs to ensure high-quality instructional services are provided to students. She is experienced in collaboration with stakeholders and coordinating, planning, and presenting professional development. Nicole holds an MA in educational leadership and a BA in English with a K-12 teaching certification.
Join the Be A Literacy Hero community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Learn It creates programs that promote student success and are customized and aligned to meet the unique needs of each school’s mission and vision. From our multiple curricula to our technology options, Learn It creates fresh, practical programs that change the trajectory of every student we encounter. Learn It is your partner in helping children succeed in school and life. Our expertise is broad and deep. Our team is caring, flexible, and outcome focused. Our approach is collaborative, progressive, and family centric.
