Vocabulary, how can it motivate students to want to read and write?  Can Kindergartners be excited about learning new words and use them in their writing and conversations?  I started focusing on vocabulary halfway through my graduate program because I spent a lot of time researching this during my Teachers as Researchers class and it sparked a huge interest and focus for my remaining classes. I knew vocabulary  was important to instruction but always assumed it only mattered in upper grades.  I have implemented strategies to introduce, review and discuss content vocabulary words and even tier I and tier II words.  I used my position paper to learn more about vocabulary and comprehension.   I used my teachers as researchers class to study vocabulary instruction and implement strategies in my room.  I used my teachers as leaders course to focus on the need of vocabulary school wide.  Most of my focus has been on implementing vocabulary notebooks in my Kindergarten classroom.  I have seen such joy and excitement in my students as they learn new words then they add to their own personal vocabulary notebook.  Students are eager to show their notebooks.  They want to share the new words they have learned. Students can add any words they want based on words we have already learned.  My students love this activity.  Vocabulary has become a regular part of my daily instruction.  And I actually use my word wall regularly with incorporating more vocabulary words based on the themes we are learning.  I continue to apply what I have learned about vocabulary into my classroom and school.