“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

 
Reading involves understanding printed words, and having a large vocabulary makes it easier to gain meaning from what is being read.

 
When learning to read, children with rich vocabularies have an enormous educational advantage. The more words a child knows, the more information he/she has.

 
Building up a child’s vocabulary involves both direct vocabulary learning and indirect vocabulary learning.

Pronouns: Basic Vocabulary

 
Here is a simple activity for assessing and teaching pronouns.

 
Collect several toys of different genders. (We have bucket loads of comic character toys, so they were our natural choice). Using these toys, ask questions involving various pronouns such as:

• Touch his shoes.
• Touch her hand.
• Can you make her fly?
• Make them jump.

 
Alternatively, you perform an action using the toy and ask the child to describe the action. Eg. You make Hulk run along a table and the child says, “He is running”.

 
If incorrect pronouns are used or pronouns are misunderstood, build up the child’s vocabulary by teaching through modelling.

N&M: 4 years, 5 months
November 2012

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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.

This is Jason Mraz, one of the musicians my husband and I adore. Last night, we (grown ups only) were lucky enough to attend his acoustic concert at the Sydney Opera House – what a treat!

I can’t help but admire songwriters/musicians. The great ones possess an amazing ability to compose and intertwine wonderful lyrics and music – no easy feat… and to be brave enough to put it out there for all the world to hear.

It’s humbling to think of the creative possibilities and courage God has gifted upon humans.

As I sat there in the concert enjoying the musical feast surrounding me, I thought about the wonder of language. It’s the means by which we express ourselves and it takes an entire lifetime to master – if it can be mastered.

My literacy challenge for this week focuses on vocabulary. My aims from Weitzman, E  & Grenberg, J 2010, ABC and Beyond: Building Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Settings published by the Hanen Early Language Program, Canada, are:

• Select books that include non-fiction as well as stories
• Pre-select new vocabulary (no more than five new words per book)
• Include a variety of types of new words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
• Introduce new vocabulary by stressing, showing, telling, relating and saying words again.

• We’ve cut down the number of books read in one session to allow more time for conversations.
• So much is achieved by observing, waiting and listening to what children have to say about the story. Just pause and wait for them to say something. A conversation awaits. A chance to learn more about your children and how they understand the world awaits.
• Conversations build up relationships.

Finally, here are the books we’ve been reading these last two weeks. I have marked our highly recommended books with an * and added them to the Lessons Learnt Journal Favourite Books List.

My First Batman Book by Downtown Bookworks Inc*. If you have little ones who adore superheroes you simply must get this book and the others in the same series (there’s a Superman and Wonderwoman one too). There are fun interactive features for young fans. This Batman book has a glow-in-the-dark bat signal. One to add to the Christmas shopping list.

That’s Not My Dinosaur an Usborne touchy-feely book by Fiona Watt & Illustrated by Rachel Wells*. Very cute pictures and fun textures throughout to engage the youngest of readers. My children can’t get enough of dinosaurs.  I don’t think dinosaurs were really this cute when they were around though.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr & Illustrated by Eric Carle*. Classic children’s book. Great for learning colours and animals.

Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd*. We finally have another Hairy Maclary book to add to our collection. We love Hairy Maclary and his new friend Zachary Quack. We can’t get enough of Hairy Maclary. With this week’s literacy challenge focusing on vocabulary, the Hairy Maclary series offers boundless opportunities. We will have to revisit some Hairy Maclary books.

Who’s Driving by Leo Timmers*. This is book published by Gecko Press. I have been very impressed by the books published by Gecko Press. The books are engaging, fun and encourage conversations. This particular book has children looking for clues to see which driver “fits” into which vehicle. They have to look at what the driver is wearing or has on him/her and make conclusions about whether that sort of driver would drive that vehicle. A fantastic book with opportunities for children to verbally articulate and validate their opinions.

999 Tadpoles Find a New Home by Ken Kimura & Illustrated by Yasunai Murakami*. This is another Gecko Press published book and it’s a seriously good book. Although this is probably the longest book N & M have come across so far, the story and pictures are so engaging, they request for it to be read first every night. They can retell the story and love adding their own bits to the story as it’s being read. A great book to add to the Christmas shopping list.

  

  

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm, Many Silent Years Part 12, God’s Promise One is Born Part 13, God’s Promised One is Announced, Part 14. I don’t know why we didn’t do it before, but we only just started using the audio CD that comes with this book. The boys love listening to another voice (and accent) reading to them. We’ve just read the Christmas story and it’s amazing to think this is the first time N&M hear the actual Christmas story and are beginning to understand it.

What are you reading this week? How are you promoting literature and literacy in your home? Are there any books that you adore and highly recommend? Share the love and leave a comment, and don’t forget to check back for responses.

N & M: 3 years 5 months
E: 16 months

Check out our Lessons Learnt Journal Favourite Books List.
Read about the whys and hows of our weekly books routine.

We are part of the following book sharing parties:

Smiling like Sunshine Book Sharing Monday

 

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