Vocabulary flashcards...ugh

Ask any teacher and they will (or should) tell you that a large vocabulary is of utmost importance in children.  Ask any researcher and they will tell you that vocabulary is one of the great dividers among children.  Heavens, ask any young adult about to take the SAT and they will tell you how important vocabulary is!

So, we get it, vocabulary is important.  But short of flashing vocabulary cards in front of your child's face how does one do that? Teach vocabulary.  I was modeling a reading lesson the other day and asked the young students as they read to jot down any word that was new to them on a sticky note.  After jotting down the word, I asked them to jot down what they thought it might mean, based on what they read and what helped them figure it out.  Initially the kids looked at me because they weren't accustomed to directing their own learning.  I explained that I had no idea what words they might not know, I wasn't in their brain!  It was interesting.  They all had a different word/s they weren't sure of.  A few of the words, I admit, I thought, really, you don't know that word? Keeping that thought to myself, we discussed the words and how they went about figuring out what the word meant.  That is a vocabulary strategy that will carry them through life.

Now, I don't expect you to have your 3 or 4 year old jot down unfamiliar words.   But I do sort of expect you to use rich vocabulary with them.  My daughter is trying to expose her daughter to rich vocabulary.  It's pretty funny, her daughter is two.   When they eat, Amy will ask Lola, Is it good, is it yummy, tasty, delicious?  Lola typically replies with yes because it is usually something she loves. Amy uses many words for good.  What we have noticed is that when she asks Lola if something is scrumptious, the answer is always no!  No idea why.  Even with that, she is being exposed to rich vocabulary and will eventually incorporate these words in her speaking vocabulary...probably not scrumptious.  However, if you have a child who is reading, feel free to ask him or her, do you know what....means?  How did you figure it out?

I do sort of expect you to read them books that have rich language.  Yes, I know there are many books for little ones about shapes and counting and letters etc. and they all have a place, we need to read those.  They need to learn those things too. But we also need to read books rich in language.

While making my weekly visit to the local book store I came across the book, Little Oink by Amy Krause and Jen Corace.   First of all it's a funny book about a little pig who likes everything neat and tidy, his parents send him to his room to make a mess as any respectable pig would do.  What I loved, though about this book was the vocabulary.  A funny book that any child 4 and up will love, but a book with words like; truffle, savored, relished, respectable, proper, snorted and retorted!  

A few others I came across and just accidentally bought were -Fancy Nancy: Spring Fashion Fling and Fancy Nancy Budding Ballerina both by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser.  How cool would it be if your child said, Mommy, let me demonstrate, instead of let me show you??? 

Visit a library, visit a book store.  Take your time and browse.  Look for rich vocabulary within the books.  Who knows, your child may not need as many vocabulary flashcards in Kindergarten.