DEFINITION

• Vocabulary instruction is the teaching of word meanings to students. ECE is the time students increase vocabulary at a rapid pace. Therefore, this is the critical period to develop students’ oral vocabulary. 
• Language activities in preschool can improve students’ communication skills, listening skills, and vocabulary. 
• Students learn words from the amount and variety of talk to which they are exposed. 
• Expose students to rich vocabulary words and descriptive and rare words. 
• Introduce three or four words per book and one or two books per week.

PURPOSE AND BENEFITS

• Vocabulary development plays a major role in learning to read. 
• Students with large oral language vocabularies have considerably fewer difficulties learning to read. 
• A greater vocabulary develops fluent reading, which aids in comprehension.

ROLE OF THE TEACHER

• Effective vocabulary occurs when students are engaged with the words. 
• As appropriate, take part in their conversations and model mature vocabulary and sentences with more complex sentence structure. This is when the teacher intentionally introduces a new word that is repeatedly used throughout the day’s activities. Have students respond so that they use the sophisticated vocabulary that you introduced. 
• Do not underestimate students’ ability to learn sophisticated vocabulary; it is just as easy for them to learn the word “saturated” as it is to learn the word “wet.” 
• Ask students open-ended questions. 
• Use games, finger plays, songs, and chants when appropriate. 
• To develop critical thinking skills, ask students to create a new ending after reading stories to the students.

VOCABULARY STRATEGIES
In order for students to get the most benefit from word-learning strategies, use a variety of methods and provide many opportunities to use the newly acquired words, both in speaking and in listening

Strategies to Support Conversations and Active Listening

• All of the strategies below play an effective role in developing oral language vocabulary. 
• Make sure all students are actively participating in the communication process. 
• When students give inaccurate word responses, do not correct an error; simply acknowledge the sentence using the correct form of the word. 
• Always expand on what students say and introduce new vocabulary and make students respond using the new words. 
• Students can act out one of the storybooks and use the vocabulary in the story; use their imaginations to develop unique scenarios, etc. 

Role-playing and Puppets: To reinforce vocabulary, involve students in role-playing scenarios. Using puppets enhances the experience. Any type of puppet will work: hand puppets, popsicle-stick puppets, paper-bag puppets, sock puppets, etc. As needed, use a simple puppet stage.

Let’s Pretend: Various dramatic play centers are very effective for building and understanding vocabulary in context. Specific areas such as a farm, doctor’s office, veterinarian’s office, grocery store, gas station, shoe store, etc., give students an opportunity to use both speaking and listening vocabularies.

Play Telephone: Place a toy telephone in each of the play centers to promote language development. Students can pretend to talk to people, pets, toys, stuffed animals, etc.
Authentic Conversations: Props that represent wireless communication offer students an authentic two-way communication in which they learn to take turns talking and listening. Props can include:

• walkie-talkies 
• megaphones 
• karaoke machines 
• microphones