Related VPK Language and Communication Standards
- A. LISTENING
- Gains meaning by listening
Benchmark: Child shows understanding by asking and answering relevant questions, adding comments relevant to the topic, and reacting appropriately to what is said.
- Gains meaning by listening
- B. SPEAKING
- Speaks clearly enough to be understood without contextual
clues
Benchmark: Child’s speech is understood by both a familiar and an unfamiliar adult.
- Speaks clearly enough to be understood without contextual
clues
- C. VOCABULARY
- Shows an understanding of words and their meanings
Benchmark a: Child has age-appropriate vocabulary in several categories and demonstrates a wide variety of words within each category.
Benchmark b: Child has mastery of instructional language of the classroom and objects in the classroom.
Benchmark c: Child understands or knows the meaning of many thousands of words, many more than he or she uses.
- Shows an understanding of words and their meanings
- C. VOCABULARY
- Uses an expanded vocabulary to describe many objects, actions, and events.
Benchmark a: Child uses a large speaking vocabulary, adding new words weekly.
- A. EMERGENT READING
- Shows motivation for reading
Benchmark a: Child enjoys reading and reading related activities.
Benchmark c: Child asks to be read to or asks the meaning of written text.
- A. EMERGENT READING
- Shows understanding of text read aloud
Benchmark a: Child retells or reenacts a story after it is read aloud.
Benchmark b: Child asks and answers appropriate questions about the story.
- Shows understanding of text read aloud
Book Embedded Vocabulary Instruction is a strategy
that incorporates language and vocabulary instruction into the classroom.
Before we learn about the strategy, let’s reflect on why it is important
to incorporate vocabulary and language instruction into the classroom.
As Dr. Julie Washington states, vocabulary development is necessary to become a good reader. It is therefore essential to ensure that children’s vocabulary is developing and that you are supporting vocabulary and language development in the classroom. One effective way to do this is to incorporate vocabulary instruction into the familiar routine of sharing story books with children. This allows children to learn new vocabulary words within an engaging activity, and allows them to hear the new vocabulary words used within the ongoing narrative of the story. These activities increase oral vocabulary and provide children with opportunities to hear advanced vocabulary during a period prior to independent reading.
Book Embedded Vocabulary Instruction is one technique that can facilitate vocabulary teaching and learning. It is, however, important to keep in mind that this technique is not enough in itself to enhance oral language skills, but it is a good beginning. It is vital to continually incorporate these target words throughout the day. This can be done in several ways. Some techniques you may use to ensure children are exposed to new, target words and independently use these words include: playing word games with children, using themes to come up with target words, and seizing every opportunity you have in the classroom to support language and vocabulary development. For help with Planning how to expose children to target words, see the Planning Sheet in the Using the Strategy step of this folder.
Please take a few minutes to watch Dr. Washington, an expert in the field, explain the importance of language and literacy development in preschool-age children. Notice how she differentiates between "world knowledge" and "word knowledge."
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