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How to Foster Vocabulary

and Develop Concepts in
the Home Environment

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In this flyer, I have outlined a few strategies useful in guiding the
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teaching of vocabulary and developing concepts to your elementary

student. They derive from the students common sense, authoritative

opinion, and research and theories based on the relationship between

vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension.

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Develop Independence in Vocabulary Learning:

Use a dictionary! Create a contextual search for your child and have them predict
what the term means and then have them look it up in the dictionary! This could
be a fun way for both you and your student learn dictionary definitions. (274)
Let them choose! Using the self-selection strategy allows your child to choose
words from the book he or she would like to learn more about. Look up the word
definition and discuss why that word was important to learn in regards to the
book. (274)

Play Games to Support Vocabulary Development:

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Play boggle! In this game players must create as many words as they can in 3
minutes based on the letters provided. Boggle is a fun game to play with you
student to support vocabulary development. (275)
Play Jeopardy! You can play Jeopardy to help your child remember definitions
of words in a meaningful way. Also, you can set it up to have the child answer
questions on how to spell certain words he or she is practicing. (275)
Play Hangman! Playing hangman will help students learn how to spell
vocabulary terms. Students will also learn how to make meaningful guesses while
playing this game.

Work on Words Students Will Encounter:

Key terms! If you as the guardian have access to the Key Words we are using in
class for the week, try to incorporate them into daily life such as conversations,
point them out to the student when you hear them on TV/radio etc. (254)
Interesting Words! Use words that are interesting to your child and tickle their
imagination to create excitement, and interest in the study of words!

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Teach Words In Relations to Others:
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Make Connections! Use connections and background knowledge to relate new

vocabulary words to words they already know. A simple way to practice this
strategy is by asking your child to give you words that relate to a certain term.
(255)
Use antonyms! Use opposites to teach words in relations to others. When
students can correctly identify words that are the opposite meaning, they show
definitional knowledge. (261)
Multiple-Meaning Words! Allow your child opportunities to see/hear how these
words work in context. Again, in conversation you can explain and have your
student exercise the ability to use these words and their multiple meanings. (263)