“Reading equals decoding times (x) comprehension.

Note, reading does not equal decoding and (+) comprehension.

If you can’t decode, you can’t read.

If you can’t comprehend what you’re decoding, you’re not reading

To read, you need both decoding and comprehension skills”.

This statement has left an indelible impression on me.

Basic vocabulary is necessary for a child as they begin to learn to read.

Assessing and Learning Basic Vocabulary: Colours

Here is a simple activity for assessing a child’s knowledge of colours.

Use crayons to make marks of each colour. Point to each mark and ask, “What colour is this?”

I had a hunch where Mr E was at with his basic vocabulary. He’s about 2 and a half years old and is picking up new words every day.

I was pretty sure he would not be able to name the colours during this simple assessment, but I did it anyway. (Even after four plus years of maternity leave, you still can’t take the teacher out of me).

I scribbled a patch of colour and asked, “What colour is this?”.

Mr E looks at me with his beautiful, round puppy dog eyes, “Ehhh…”. I chuckled (inside of course).

I quickly modified this simple assessment into a vocabulary lesson for learning colours.

Vocabulary can be taught orally through modelling.

We went through a few colours, but I didn’t push it. While he is ever so keen to be like his older preschool brothers, his round baby face reminds me that he is still only about two and a half. We must learn to walk before we can run.

Colours can wait. I think we need to work on vocabulary for toilet training first.

Important Teaching Points when Building Vocabulary

If your children are ready for more vocabulary building, here are some points to consider:

• Vocabulary should be taught both directly and indirectly.
• Encountering vocabulary words often and in various ways can have a significant effect on vocabulary learning.
• Choose vocabulary words that your child will find useful in many contexts.
• Repetition, richness of context and a child’s motivation adds to vocabulary learning.

E: 2 years, 4 months
October 2012

Some more important points to consider when building up a child’s vocabulary.

I originally published a version of this post on KidsActivitiesBlog.com

The post Colours: Vocabulary for Beginning Readers by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Vocabulary for Pre and Beginning Readers

 
Basic vocabulary is necessary for a child as they begin to learn to read.

 
Children learn the meanings of most words indirectly, through their everyday experiences.

 
While most vocabulary is learnt indirectly, direct vocabulary learning in addition to indirect vocabulary learning is useful. About 300 more words can be learnt each year as a result of direct vocabulary instruction, (Stahl & Fairbanks, 1986).

 
Basic vocabulary for beginning readers include: colours; prepositions; common objects and locations; pronouns; parts of everyday objects; adjectives; occupations; quantity words; materials; shapes; and patterns.

Prepositions: Basic Vocabulary

 
Here is a simple activity for assessing and teaching prepositions.

 
This activity can be done with two cups and any other single item you have on hand, e.g. a pencil. Following my sons’ lead and interest in superheroes, (and embracing the reality that we have many of them littered throughout our home), we used two cups and a Batman toy.

 
Placing Batman in various positions relative to the cup/s, I simply asked, “Where is Batman?”

 
Where there were gaps in their vocabulary, I taught the prepositions through modelling.

Teaching Vocabulary through Modelling

 
Vocabulary can be taught orally through modelling, particularly when a child is at the pre-reading or early stages of learning to read.

 
In teaching vocabulary through modelling, there are three steps:

1. Model positive and negative examples of the new concept.
2. Test the child on their understanding using examples of the new word.
3. Integrate by presenting different examples of the new word, along with examples of other previously taught words.

 
We kept the lesson short and punchy. Repetition is key to building vocabulary, so we’ll have to visit this activity often; (good thing that it involves Batman).

More Activities for Preschoolers

Three to Five: Playful Preschool is stuffed to the brim with tried, tested and loved playful learning ideas for preschoolers. There are 25+ ideas for preschoolers, ten printable resources and additional links to over 50 more activities. A great resource for parents. Download your copy here.

N&M: 4 years, 4 months
October 2012

The post Prepositions: Vocabulary for Beginning Readers by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.