TEACHING TOPIC VOCABULARY:

 

For each new topic, the class teacher should categorise new topic words into the following categories:

Essential- These words are integral to the topic and should be words used in everyday conversation.

Desirable- These words are useful for the topic and they will be encountered again.

‘Might be nice’- These are less common words which are topic specific.

 

Have a few sessions before the topic starts to talk about the new words and record which words the child already knows. Ensure the child understands the essential words and then use a word map or vocabulary grid to work on learning the desirable words. This will support the child to learn how the word sounds, its meaning and how to use it in a sentence.

Review how many words the child understands/uses half way and at the end of the topic. Send the list of words home so that parents can talk about the words with their child too.

 

For example- a ‘Rivers’ topic:

 

Using a multisensory approach:

Use a multisensory approach to ensure accurate storage of the words, for example if focussing on the word ‘gorilla’:

• Look up the word on the internet, do some research and look at pictures.
• Talk about what gorillas look like, what they might feel like, smell like etc.
• Use the written word with the picture to ensure links to literacy
• Talk about words which mean a similar thing i.e. monkey, chimpanzee, ape. Talk about the differences between these things.
• Use the word in a sentence, i.e. ‘I saw a gorilla at the zoo’.
• Create a song or rap about the target word.

 

Using a vocabulary grid:

 

From the Tall Ships Project