Monday, December 1, 2008

December: Vocabulary

This month's early literacy skill is Vocabulary!

What is it?

Vocabulary is knowing the names of things.

Why is it important?

Because the more words kids know, the easier it is for them to read. It's a lot easier to sound out a word that they already know than one that is new. Plus, the more meanings of words kids know, the easier it is to make sense of what they read.

What does Vocabulary look like in storytime?
  • Reading picture books is a great way to increase children's vocabularies, because picture books have more rare words than does casual conversation.

  • Talk with the children before and after storytime. The more words children hear, the more words they learn.

  • After a story, go back to a page with an unfamiliar word or phrase and talk about it some more.

  • Choose books with rich language. Think of all the synonyms and "sleep" words there are in the simple story "The Napping House."

  • Songs like "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" and "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" all introduce great vocabulary words.

  • Read non-fiction as well as fiction in your storytimes!

  • Talk about the emotions of the characters in the story.

What do you like to do to enhance Vocabulary in your storytimes? What Vocabulary tips do you give to the parents during storytime?

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I like rhyming text picture books and repetive phrases. I think that helps with vocabulary.

Unknown said...

Sorry, I meant repetitive phrases (in previous comment)