With this fun and practical book, grades 3-5 teachers have at hand both the research and the day-to-day practical activities that support a fascinating approach for empowering their students’ vocabulary. Upper elementary students will develop a deeper understanding of how the English language works, enrich their vocabularies, and improve their reading and writing skills through the information and lessons provided by veteran educators Mary Jo Fresch and David L. Harrison. Six chapters present definitions and playful examples (in poetry and prose) to teach antonyms, synonyms, acronyms (and many more nyms ), similes, metaphors, idioms, shades of meaning, and word origins. Practical lessons and activities for each category will engage students in joyful practice. A final chapter offers insights into language choices by eight well-known children’s poets and authors, including two former US Young People’s Poets Laureate-Kenn Nesbitt and Margarita Engle-and world-renowned Jane Yolen.