It's an easy deduction to make--an increased vocabulary improves reading comprehension. In fact, student word knowledge is strongly linked with academic accomplishment overall. Therefore, one of our greatest priorities as parents and teachers should be to help our children build and strengthen their vocabulary knowledge bases. And one of the best resources around to accomplish this goal is the Wordly Wise 3000 series by Educators Publishing Service (EPS).

This review is specifically for the Wordly Wise 3000 Book 4 set (fourth grade), but all levels contain basically the same format and concepts. Each one has been designed to help students in kindergarten through twelfth grade meet state standards for vocabulary and reading comprehension. And the components of this level include a wire-bound teacher's resource book, a consumable student workbook, and 5 CD discs of audio recordings of word lists and reading passages.

For each lesson, there are five preliminary vocabulary word introductions and exercises that help the student become familiar with and learn to apply meanings correctly. The five preliminary activities include:

Word List
Finding Meanings
Just the Right Word
Applying Meanings
Word Study

Then the student reads a passage (with vocabulary words in bold print) and answers comprehension questions. There is also a section called "Fun and Fascinating Facts" that is designed to further pique the student's interest in what he/she has just read.

There are 20 lessons in the level 4 student book, each focusing on a different story topic:

Lesson 1: Sequoya's Gift
Lesson 2: California's Forest Giants
Lesson 3: A Long Winter Nap
Lesson 4: One Step at a Time
Lesson 5: A Life That Changed
Lesson 6: The Emperor's New Clothes
Lesson 7: Armed But Not Dangerous
Lesson 8: The Great Pyramid
Lesson 9: The Forty-Niners
Lesson 10: Tokoyo and the Sea Monster
Lesson 11: Maple Sugaring
Lesson 12: Communicating with Koko
Lesson 13: Anne Frank's Diary
Lesson 14: How Water Lilies Began
Lesson 15: The Fall and Rise of the Bald Eagle
Lesson 16: The Story of Johnny Appleseed
Lesson 17: An African Folk Tale
Lesson 18: The Great Wall of China
Lesson 19: Martha Graham--Artist and Teacher
Lesson 20: The Story of William Tell

The teacher's resource book includes:

Teacher's Guide
Student Book and Answer Key
Lesson Review Exercises
Lesson Review Answer Key
Tests
Test Answer Key
Word List

Using the CDs, the student will be able to hear:

-Each word list, including definitions and a "quick check" comprehension question
-All vocabulary words used in context
-All reading passages read fluently
-Modeling of correct pronunciation


If your goal is to see improved standardized test scores, Wordly Wise 3000 is the perfect tool. The verbal sections of standardized tests in most states are basically tests of vocabulary and reading comprehension. And with the tools, strategies, and techniques provided in Wordly Wise, these bases will be adequately covered! Overall, a great resource for everyone!

The total cost for the three components reviewed here is around $110.00. This is about $10.95 for the student book, $43.95 for the teacher's resource book, and $55.00 for the CD set. But in my opinion, this resource is well worth the money. Be sure to check out the optional EPS website www.wordlywise3000.com for more information, word lists, and games.

Product review by Amy M. O'Quinn, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, June 2009