Besides acting as a core for reading comprehension and fluency, vocabulary is essential for content area learning. What is a content area? It is merely a different name for a subject area, with common ones including maths, English, history, chemistry, and sociology.
The role of vocabulary in content area learning should be stimulated by educators through collaborative conversations and providing children with stimulating texts. They should also encourage them to discuss word problem-solving strategies. In this article, we will cover the value of vocabulary and how it affects learning.
The Common Core State Standards
Today, most elementary schools are in accordance with the English Language Arts standards (total of 32). It is quite impressive to know that four solely focus on the vocabulary of students.
Reading Standard 4 is directly related to comprehension and understanding written words and phrases. This standard is relevant for providing the text with meaning and understanding how sentences can affect the overall context.
Very similar is Language Standard 4, which is met if you can clarify words and distinguish different sounds and phonetics in specific phrases.
Language Standard 5 stands for being comfortable with nuances and figurative language.
Language Standard 6 is met when you can express your thoughts by using academic and domain-specific words and phrases.
Talking about content area standards, the most common standard for maths is naming and describing different shapes, including squares, triangles, cylinders, and circles. This is something that kids do early as kindergarten.
The Importance Of Vocabulary Knowledge For Literacy
Standing directly with reading, writing, and speaking, vocabulary gives sense to conversations and any of these skills. As children go down the road and move through the grades, it becomes even more critical as they are met with complex texts and the increased need for reading comprehension.
One of the most common mistakes that educators make is isolating the practice of words. Most students would achieve better results and get higher grades if presented with words/phrases in a practical context or use.
Furthermore, it is crucial to combine reading with relevant instruction. If you are an educator, you should figure out the words that the students may not have encountered through the assigned essays and books.
Creating An Interactive Environment
Much like reading instruction at an early age, educators should focus on collaborative text and interactive discussions. Reading aloud is the perfect opportunity for kids to get more confident at their vocabulary and reading comprehension.
Plus, engaging in word-learning games and finding opinion stations to debate is a great strategy to utilize vocabulary in content area learning.
Concluding Thoughts
Without distinguishing the meaning of particular words or phrases, students can’t learn new concepts. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that educators invest effort into creating an entertaining and interactive vocabulary learning environment.