What is Vocabulary?

A rich vocabulary is the key to learning. Vocabulary is the thing that readers of all ages will always be learning as they grow in skills. Building background knowledge through vocabulary helps a reader understand the text and increases comprehension.

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Vocabulary Practice

Here is a list of activities you can explore at home to build your child's vocabulary strategies.

*Write ten vocabulary words on one side of 3x5 cards. On another ten cards, write the definitions. Play “Concentration” or the “Memory Game” with your new vocabulary words.

*Play Vocabulary Charades. Act out new vocabulary words. Take turns guess the word.

*Play Headbands. Write words on notecards and place them face down. One person puts the notecard on his/her head with the word facing the other person. The person that can read the card gives clues to the person with the notecard on his/her forehead while the person holding the notecard tries to guess which word they have.

*Read to and with your child extensively. Reading is a natural and powerful way to build vocabulary knowledge.

*Talk to your child using words that may be a stretch for him/her. For example, “Help me watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk (instead of walkers).” Discuss and clarify as necessary. Help your child learn and practice the new words.

*Make a vocabulary notebook. Cut out a newspaper headline with interesting words. Paste into your notebook. Highlight the words and look up the meanings. Practice using the words in daily conversation and watch for them in other printed materials.

*To reinforce science and social studies vocabulary, write each vocabulary word on a 3x5 card. Write the definition on the back. Practice the words with your child while driving in the car or making dinner.

*Connect the new word to what your child already knows. If the new vocabulary word is mountain, choose a related, known word, such as hill. Talk about similarities between the two words (landform, raised elevation, not flat). Discuss a memorable experience you associate with the word (e.g. We climbed a mountain, which is called Mt. Rainier, and ended up with sore feet.)

*Reminisce with your child over a stack of photographs from a vacation or a special event. Develop a list of vocabulary words for photographers. Have your child write captions for each picture.

*Drawing their own pictures of new vocabulary words helps children make a personal connection with the words. Then they can write the definition under the drawing.

*Explore word roots with your child. A root or base of a word is the main part of the word. For example: aud means hear in Latin (audio, auditorium, audible); pop means people (popular, population).

*Explore common prefixes with your child. Brainstorm all the words you can with a specific prefix. For example: with tele (meaning far), you can brainstorm telephone, television, telescope, and teleconference. With anti (meaning against) you can brainstorm antifreeze, antibiotic, antisocial, etc.

*Explore common suffixes with your child. Adding -tion to a word creates a noun; for example invent + tion = invention; adding -less to a word means “without”; for example: treeless, motionless, cheerless.

*Listen for unusual words. In your vocabulary notebook, add your new vocabulary words and watch your vocabulary grow. Share and discuss new, interesting, and/or unique words you come across.

*Model using a dictionary (paper or online) every time you encounter a word you do not know. Soon, your child will be following your good example.

*Explore antonyms (words of opposite meanings) and synonyms (words with similar meanings) with your child.

*Make a Bingo card of new vocabulary words. Give a definition and help your child match it to the correct word on the Bingo card.

*Challenge your child to use a new vocabulary word 5 different times in a day. Keep track of when, how, and why the word was used.

*Play 20 clues with your child. Select a vocabulary word and give clues about the word, one by one, until your child guesses the word.

*Post new words around the house. Refer to the new words as often as you can. Celebrate with your child when she or he uses a new word in proper context in everyday speech.

*Find board games where playing helps with learning new vocabulary (Pictionary, trivia games, Blank Slate).