How many words do your children know and use?

Fact: Vocabulary underpins the development of Reading Skills.

Without a well developed vocabulary, children find reading difficult. When reading is difficult, the child will avoid reading. Reading is a large factor in increasing vocabulary so these children fall further and further behind. By the time they reach Senior School, these children may have a vocabulary that is thousands of words less than their peers. This is known as an example of 'the Matthew effect.' (A phenomenon that has its roots in the Gospel of Matthew) What can parents and teachers do??

If students are... *Using simple and restricted spoken vocabulary *Unable to read ‘expectedly known’ words and/or substituting easier words or incorrect words *Showing a limited general knowledge

Then they need...

^Explicit and systematic instruction of Tier 1 (if needed) and Tier 2 words ^Use teacher readalouds (fiction and non-fiction in equal measure) with intentional 'vocabulary explanations' ^Use working/living word walls. Engage students in open and closed word sorts ^Ensure students use words across learning areas. Broaden their general knowledge ^Provide opportunities to apply knowledge