Vocabulary
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.
For each weekly reading unit, we have 8 vocabulary words. Students will practice these words throughout the week and will take a vocabulary assessment at the end of the week. The vocabulary assessment is a fill-in-the-blank assessment that includes a word bank. Students must use the correct vocabulary word to complete the sentence. This tests their ability to use and understand a vocabulary word in context.
How can you help your child study at home?
Use the flashcards that your child creates in class to quiz them on the word and meaning. Alternate between asking them to give you the correct definition and giving you the correct word to match the definition.
Make 2 sets of flashcards to play "Memory Match". Have your child try to match the word to the correct definition by flipping over the cards.
Play "Charades"! Have your child act out the vocabulary word and get family members to guess the word.
Play "Headbandz"! Take a headband and a flashcard. Each player attaches a vocabulary card to their headband (without seeing the word on their card). Each player will take turns giving clues to each other to help the other person guess their vocabulary word. If you guess the word correctly, you get to keep the card!
Write sentences and leave a blank for the vocabulary words. Have your child guess which vocabulary word completes the sentence. This can also be done verbally. Say the sentence and have your child say the missing vocabulary word. You can even have your child come up with the sentence and you guess the missing vocabulary word!
Get some fresh air and go outside to play basketball! Give your child a vocabulary word and have them give you the definition. If they get it correct, they can shoot the basketball into the hoop and score points. On the next try, give them the definition and have them give you the word. If they get it correct, they can shoot the basketball into the hoop and score points.
Be creative and have fun!
Enriching your child's vocabulary is important for their overall reading development, not just for the weekly vocabulary tests. Make it a routine to read books together and discuss new words. Make a list of new words that you are finding and learning together. Encourage your child to share vocabulary words they find in the books they are reading independently. Challenge them to look for new words that they haven't heard of before. Incorporate using richer vocabulary into your everyday conversations. Instead of saying dinner was good, use words like delicious or scrumptious. Instead of saying something is pretty, use words like beautiful or amazing. Try having a family vocabulary word of the day or of the week. Encourage everyone in the family to get involved and your child will benefit greatly from the support. Make it fun!
For more tips and suggestions, visit