1. Vocabulary
Parent Resources

2. Vocabulary is...
Vocabulary is students’ knowledge of, and memory for, word meanings. This includes:
Receptive Vocabulary
Words we understand when read or spoken to us
Expressive vocabulary
Words we know well enough to use in speaking and writing

3. Conversation
Use conversations and questions about interesting words you encounter to create opportunities to get new words into everyday talk.
Talking to and reading with your child are two terrific ways to help them hear and read new words and are easy, non-threatening ways to get new words into everyday talk.
Use conversations and questions about interesting words you encounter...
"The book says, 'The boy tumbled down the hill,' and look at the picture! How do you think he went down the hill? Can you show me how you think he might have went down?”

4. Read Aloud
Choose books above your child’s level because they are likely to contain broader vocabulary. This way, you are actually teaching him new words and how they are used in context.
Continue to read aloud to your child even after he is able to read independently. Choose books above your child’s level because they are likely to contain broader vocabulary. This way, you are actually teaching him new words and how they are used in context.

5. Preview Words
Before reading to or with your child, scan through the book, and choose two words that you think might be interesting or unfamiliar to your child.
Tell your child what the words are and what they mean.
As you read the book, have your child listen for those words.
Before reading to or with your child, scan through the book, and choose two words that you think might be interesting or unfamiliar to your child. Tell your child what the words are and what they mean. As you read the book, have your child listen for those words.

6. Experiences
Introduce your child to a variety of experiences to help build background knowledge .
Introduce your child to a variety of experiences to help build background knowledge he/she can use while making sense of print by taking them to the park, museums, the zoo, etc.
List of local experiences:
Bakery
Farm/dairy
Museums
Zoos
Grocery Store
Mall
Encourage parents to focus on oral language development through the discussion they have with their child while visiting local establishments.

7. Book Language
Use the language of books such as author, title, illustrator, title page, etc.

8. Word Play
Discuss positional words such as beside, below, under, over, etc.
Discuss ordinal words such as first, second, third, etc.
Discuss positional words such as beside, below, under, over, etc. Make it into a game at dinner by asking your child to place his/her fork in different places in relation to his/her plate. Ex: Put your fork above your plate. Play a postitional game: Use a stuffed animal and ask your student to place the stuffed animal in different positions.
Trade roles so that your child can give the directions.
Discuss Opposites, Antonyms, and Ordinal Words

9. Positional Word Games
At dinner ask your child to place his/her fork in different places in relation to his/her plate.
Ex: Put your fork above your plate.
Use a stuffed animal and ask your student to place the stuffed animal in different positions.
Trade roles so that your child can give the directions.
Discuss positional words such as beside, below, under, over, etc. Make it into a game at dinner by asking your child to place his/her fork in different places in relation to his/her plate. Ex: Put your fork above your plate. Play a postitional game: Use a stuffed animal and ask your student to place the stuffed animal in different positions.
Trade roles so that your child can give the directions.
Discuss Opposites, Antonyms, and Ordinal Words

10. Positional Word Stories
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
Inside Outside Upside Down by Stan Berenstain
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Left or right? ...Karl M. Rehm
The Tree Houseby Roberta Seckler Brown
Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse by Lindsay Barrett George
As the Crow Flies by Gail Hartman
The Bouncing Ball by Deborah Kelly