1. Building and Improving your child’s vocabulary.
Whilst encouraging your child to read.

2. How does your child learn?
Most children learn words from everyday conversation and from reading books regularly
Usually a child of 6-8 years old encounters 6-7 new words a day, whereas a child of 8-12 years old learns 12 new words a day
Although your child will read new words, they usually rely on hearing words times before it becomes part of their ‘vocabulary’

3. Why is building vocabulary so important for your child?
To see new words regularly and learn their meaning To understand reading comprehension and to improve their understanding of words they read To be able to use new words in their writing, as well as improving their spelling.

4. It is also a very important part of your child’s curriculum
Emerging readers
KS1
KS2
By the end of KS2
I can select pictures, words and books that excite me
I understand what a text means by discussing my understanding of different words
I understand the meaning of new words: using prefixes such as im, in, dis, mis, un, re, sub, anti
I understand how the writers use of language and the impact it has on me and a reader
I can discuss pictures , words and books that excite me
I can explain and discuss the meaning of words in context
I can begin to answer comprehension questions familiar words
I can find the meaning of words from their context, using dictionaries to check the meaning of words
I can read aloud and understand the meaning of all of the words on my age related word list
I can discuss exciting words and phrases used in a book
I can read aloud and understand the meaning of at least ½ of my age related key words
I can use and discuss figurative language and use thesauruses to extend my word knowledge
I can answer comprehension questions using my knowledge of words

5. How to improve your child’s vocabulary?
By asking questions as you read with your child
What does this word mean here?
Does this word match the picture (and why)?
Can you think of other or different words that could be used?
Think of words that mean the same – these are called synonyms. Can you think of a word that means the same as _______?
Think of words that mean the opposite – these are called homophones. Can you think of a word that means the opposite of _______?
Can you think of words that sound the same?
Can you think of a different word that the author could have used?
Does it always mean this, does this word have different meanings?

6. Tips for learning new words
READ,READ and READ – don’t be afraid to give a child friendly definition yourself of words that you child may find tricky
Check using dictionaries – online ones are a life saver
Your child can draw a picture to memorise the meaning of a story or the meaning of new words that they have found – funny pictures are great
If your child is reading independently – encourage them to notice the words they don’t know, they could write these down; ask your child the plot of a book or what the words mean
Keep a list of weekly spelling words in a place that can be seen regular – e.g. on a fridge. Try to use them in everyday conversation with your child, challenge your child – who can use these the most in a week?
Learn a word a day
Play games – Hot Potato – give your child a word, you must take it in turns to think of an alternative e.g.. Said – exclaimed – asked…
Have fun with words that rhyme.

7. Help Online https://www.spellzone.com/unit02/page1.cfm