Part 1: The Wonder of Teaching Vocabulary, with Freddy Hiebert
Dr Freddy Hiebert revolutionises vocabulary instruction by rejecting traditional lists and flashcards in favour of understanding English’s systematic nature. She reveals that 95% of texts derive from 2,500 morphological families, where grasping one word unlocks related terms.
Using her “bratwurst in a baguette with yogurt” metaphor, she explains English’s Germanic, French, and Greek influences. Hiebert champions semantic maps over lists, demonstrating how students build meaningful word connections. She reassures teachers that many word families require no explicit instruction, focusing instead on systematic understanding.
Podcast Part 1: https://the-teachers-tool-kit-for-literacy.simplecast.com/episodes/part-1-the-wonder-of-teaching-vocabulary-with-freddy-hiebert
