Thinking outside the book
Children’s exposure to sophisticated vocabulary must extend beyond discussions about storybooks. Using the words deliberately with children throughout the day, such as in conversations and during activities, provides repeated exposure and helps develop meaning across contexts. For example, a teacher might explain the word persevere when it is first encountered in a storybook, use the word later in activities with children, and use it again during a conver- sation about young siblings (see “Using Persevere across Multiple Contexts”). In these ways, sophisticated vocabu-
Talking about unusual words with pre- schoolers not only exposes them to sophisticated words but also helps teachers understand children’s current knowledge.
© K
ar en
P h
ill ip
s
70 Young Children • November 2012
lary relating to meaningful content is modeled and valued in children’s vernacular. Providing concrete examples of sophisticated vocabulary is another way to think outside the book. A teacher might show and label a sieve in a demonstration of washing ber- ries. The teacher could give a definition of sieve—a wire mesh utensil—as well as information about its function: straining water from washed fruit. The sieve’s features (e.g., handles, size and placement of holes) make it suitable for some types of food but not others. The teacher might use it with children, show examples of types of sieves, discuss different functions (e.g., sifting, ricing, puréeing), or show examples of sieves in different contexts, such as construc- tion, mining, or archaeology. Finally, children can use sieves in cooking and in outdoor and water play activities. Another way to think outside the book is to use words in conversations. Children need opportunities to produce new vocabulary in a variety of settings. Small groups—which are especially helpful for dual language learners or children who are introverted—help children produce words. Combined with hands-on examples, this small group setting fosters rich interaction and talk about grits.