Understanding Vocabulary and Word Finding
What is Vocabulary?
Vocabulary refers to the words we know and use.
- Expressive Vocabulary: The words we can use in speech and writing.
- Receptive Vocabulary: The words we understand when we hear or read them.
A rich vocabulary is essential for success in school and beyond. It helps children understand new concepts, express themselves clearly, and engage in learning across all subjects.
What is Word Finding?
Word finding is the ability to retrieve and use words stored in our brain. Sometimes, children know a word (it’s stored in their memory) but struggle to access it when they need to use it. This is known as a word-finding difficulty.
Signs of Word-Finding Difficulties
Children with word-finding difficulties may:
- Use vague or incorrect words, e.g., “he’s doing that” instead of “the boy is posting the letter.”
- Describe items rather than name them.
- Use empty phrases with little information.
- Rely on gestures or actions to communicate.
- Use words incorrectly, e.g., “Daddy’s sweeping the dog.”
Strategies to Support Word Learning and Retrieval
To learn new words, children need to:
- Make links between words they already know (semantic links).
- Understand speech sound patterns of the word (phonological links).
- Practise retrieving words using various strategies.
How to Teach New Words
- Introduce a Few Words at a Time: Focus on words that are meaningful and useful to the child. Coordinate with teachers to align with classroom topics.
- Pre-Teach and Post-Teach Vocabulary:
– Pre-teach: Introduce new words before a lesson.
– Post-teach: Revisit and reinforce these words after the lesson. - Use a Multi-Sensory Approach:
– See it: Use real objects, photos, or videos.
– Hear it: Repeat the word frequently in context.
– Say it: Encourage the child to say the word in sentences.
– Read it: Provide opportunities to read the word in books or labels.
– Write it: Practice writing the word in isolation and in sentences. - Explore Word Features:
Use a structured approach to talk about the word:
- Syllables: Clap out the syllables (e.g., “pe-tal” has 2 syllables).
- Initial Sound: Identify the starting sound (e.g., “p” in “petal”).
- Category: Discuss the category it belongs to (e.g., flowers).
- Location: Where do you find it? (e.g., on a flower, in a garden).
- Function: What does it do? (e.g., part of a flower).
Helping Children Retrieve Words
If a child struggles to find a word, encourage them to:
Give Clues:
- What does it look like?
- What do we do with it?
- What is it similar to?
Self-Cue:
- Think of the first sound.
- Identify the category it belongs to.
- Use an opposite (e.g., “It’s not big, it’s… small”).
- Think of a related word (e.g., “pencil and… eraser”).
Encouraging Independence
As children grow, help them become less reliant on adult prompts by:
- Teaching them self-cueing techniques.
- Encouraging them to use word maps or charts to organise their ideas.
- Discussing how they can help themselves, such as pausing to think or breaking words into parts.
Practical Activities for Word Learning
- Word Maps:
Create word maps with sections like:
– Definition
– Syllables
– Word category (e.g., noun, verb)
– Opposites/synonyms
– Example sentence - Games:
– I Spy: Use descriptive clues instead of naming items directly.
– 20 Questions: Encourage the child to ask or answer descriptive questions.
– Word Associations: Say a word and ask the child to say something related. - Everyday Conversations:
Use everyday moments to model language, expand sentences, and encourage word use.
Tips for Success
- Be Patient: Give children time to think and respond.
- Use the ten second rule: Count to ten in your head before gently prompting for a response/offering support.
- Avoid Negative Feedback: Instead of saying, “No, that’s not right,” model the correct word or sentence.
- Celebrate Effort: Use specific praise like, “I love how you described that!”
- Repetition is Key: Repeat words often to reinforce learning.
- Keep it Fun: Incorporate words into games and play to maintain engagement.
By using these strategies consistently, you can help children with word-finding difficulties develop their vocabulary, improve their communication skills, and build confidence in their ability to express themselves.