A Vista School Resources Program
PictureThis! Vocabulary & Comprehension Resources
Helping multilingual learners see meaning, learn words, and build language for school success.
PictureThis! is more than a dictionary. It is a connected series of vocabulary, comprehension, classroom, and family engagement resources designed to help multilingual learners access English, academic content, and meaningful communication.
More than a dictionary
A bridge to comprehension
The PictureThis! Dictionary gives students immediate access to word meaning through photographs and word-to-word language support. But the PictureThis! series goes further.
With teacher supports, thematic word lists, hands-on vocabulary activities, family practice, journals, and newcomer curriculum resources, students are supported as they move from word recognition to oral language, reading, writing, and content understanding.
The PictureThis! Pathway
See it → Say it → Understand it → Use it → Read it → Write it
PictureThis! helps students connect images, words, home language, English vocabulary, classroom content, and family conversation — so vocabulary becomes usable language.
The Full Series
One connected series. Multiple entry points for vocabulary growth.
Each resource in the PictureThis! series is designed to work together — supporting students in the classroom, at home, and at every stage of their language learning journey.
PictureThis! Dictionary — Classroom Edition
The foundation for vocabulary access
A photographic, word-to-word classroom resource available in 11 bilingual editions plus a monolingual English edition. Supports multilingual learners with visual meaning, home-language connections, thematic word lists, and instructional strategies for K–12 classrooms.
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PictureThis! Primary Vocabulary Kit
Kindergarten to Grade 2
Hands-on early literacy and language practice
A classroom kit for young multilingual learners that builds academic language through dictionaries, multimodal early literacy strategies, games, activity mats, and small-group or center-based practice.
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PictureThis! Family Kit
Vocabulary practice that travels home
A take-home language kit designed to help families build vocabulary through conversation, reflection, dictionary dives, and 25 thematic connections — in repeatable 10-minute routines.
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ACTIVATE Language — Newcomers
Structured language support for beginning English learners
A newcomer curriculum resource that pairs the PictureThis! Dictionary with student and teacher materials to help emerging multilingual learners build beginning English, vocabulary, interaction, and academic language. Available 2027.
Learn more →Who It Helps
Designed for students who need access to words before they can fully access content
PictureThis! supports:
- Multilingual learners and emergent bilinguals
- Newcomers and SLIFE students
- K–2 early literacy classrooms
- Family engagement and home language connections
- ESL, bilingual, dual language, and inclusive classrooms
- Content-area vocabulary and classroom participation
- Career and academic vocabulary readiness
Built for Everyone in the Learning Community
For teachers, students, and families
For Students
Independent access to words, images, and meaning — in their home language and in English.
For Teachers
Ready-to-use vocabulary routines, thematic lists, small-group activities, and instructional supports that reduce prep time.
For Families
Simple, meaningful ways to practice language at home in short, repeatable routines that connect school vocabulary to family conversation.
Built for Educators
Why Educators Choose the PictureThis! Dictionary — Classroom Edition
- Dual Purpose: Serves as both a student reference and teaching resource
- Inclusive: Supports multilingual learners, newcomers, and diverse learning needs
- Time-Saving: Ready-to-use strategies reduce prep time
- Research-Aligned: Complements proven instructional models like SIOP and UDL
That's why the PictureThis! Classroom Edition includes tools, strategies, and resources for teachers to support multilingual learners.
Vista School Resources, Inc. — Your Partner in Education
At Vista School Resources, Inc., we believe that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future. That's why we are dedicated to providing high-quality educational resources that help teachers and students achieve their goals. Our products are carefully developed to meet the needs of the targeted grade levels and objectives. We are honored to be your partner in education!
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Vista School Resources, Inc.
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Miami, Florida 33186, United States