Improving Vocabulary Blog.ORG

Whether a child is learning a first, second or third language, is the need to not only develop basic communication skills, but also the concept of helping with word recognition and comprehension.  Understanding how students can develop towards advanced skills in vocabulary development also leads to better communication levels and the option to comprehend reading at new levels.  However, for this to work effectively, is also the need to apply tools that assist and support learning.

There have been several models that have focused on the application of vocabulary development, all of which are focused on the most comprehensive ways to help children establish a better understanding of basic and advanced words.  Most models apply three general rules for assistance.  The first is partial to precise knowledge, meaning that vocabulary can be identified and defined by children.  The second is depth of knowledge, which applies to comprehension in communication and reading.  The third level for this includes the ability to be receptive to the words while producing the words in daily communication[1].

With this main concept, is not only the need to teach children through communication and basic applications, but also to work towards finding tools that prove anyone can learn and apply words on these three levels.  Any tool that is used should be able to focus on different areas of learning.  This begins with organization and structure that allows children to be comfortable with learning and applying different words.  This should be combined with different tools that make comprehension on various levels easy to apply so children become more cognizant of advanced vocabulary learning.

With the need to find tools, are several other needs defined by those who are interested in expanding vocabulary for children.  Having interaction with specific tools, for example, is known to assist children at deeper levels.  This is combined with having the capacity to offer visual examples, hearing or phonetics and packages, which provides deeper comprehension through reading.  More specifically, the tools should be able to work with vocabulary development, meaning children and youth can use the same terms and concepts as they move into deeper, multi-dimensional meanings of words which are applied to reading and communication[2].

As can be seen, the concept of vocabulary development doesn’t mean only applying an introduction to different words with the desire to assist students in their learning.  It also corresponds with providing a multi-dimensional set of tools for children, so they have more capacities to learn about vocabulary and words.  The result is the ability for children and youth to move into advanced understandings of communication and reading.

[2] Wood, Julie.  (2001).  “Can Software Support Children’s Vocabulary Development?”  Language, Learning and Technology. (5), (1), pp. 166 – 201.