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Target the Problem!

Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the words we must understand to communicate effectively. Vocabulary plays a fundamental role in the reading process, and contributes greatly to a reader’s comprehension. A reader cannot understand a text without knowing what most of the words mean. Students learn the meaning of most words indirectly, through everyday experiences with oral and written language. Other words are learned through carefully designed instruction that teaches important words.

A kid's perspective

What this feels like to me

• “I heard my friend tell what happened in the movie but I didn’t really understand it.”
• “I feel like I just use the same words over and over again in my writing.”
• “I don’t like to read on my own because I don’t understand lots of the words in the book.”

What I can do to help myself

• Find books to read on your own. The more you read, the more new words you’ll see, and the more you’ll learn about the words.
• Look ahead in textbooks to learn new vocabulary and concepts before your teacher goes over the the section in class.
• Keep a list of key vocabulary and transition words such as first, then, and finally for reference.

A parent's perspective

What I see at home

• She’s unable to tell about her day in a way that makes sense.
• He doesn’t link words from a book to similar words from another book or real life.
• She misuses common words.

What I can do to help

• Engage your child in conversations every day. If possible, include new and interesting words in your conversation.
• Read to your child each day. When the book contains a new or interesting word, pause and define the word for your child.
• Help build word knowledge by classifying and grouping objects or pictures while naming them.
• Play verbal games and tell jokes and stories.

A teacher's perspective

What I see in the classroom

• She has questions about a lot of word meanings in a grade appropriate text.
• He seems to have a weak vocabulary.
• She is not able to make connections among words in various texts.

What I can do to help

• Help build language skills through oral and written word exercises and games.
• Provide instruction about the important, useful, and difficult words before students read a text.
• Offer students many opportunities to encounter target words beyond the context in which they are taught.
• Explicitly teach the meanings of common prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

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