Do you have a language rich classroom?

We know that some children arrive at school already behind because they come from a home that is language poor.  Language poor environments are homes where children are exposed to minimal printed words, have minimal conversations, a limited opportunity to acquire background knowledge and do not  hear academic language spoken. (Cunningham & Stanovich, 1997, 1998)

As teachers, it is our job to help close the gap between the language rich and the language poor.  

One of the ways to do that is by creating a classroom that is literacy rich!  Check out the EIGHT ideas below to make your classroom a literacy rich environment. 

1. Read aloud to your students daily

Reading aloud to your students everyday creates a strong foundation for literacy development.  Students are able to hear phrased, fluent reading and are exposed to a myriad of new words that aren't often used in everyday conversation.  

Typically, listening comprehension of students is much higher than their reading comprehension, which allows teachers to select books that stretch the listener.  Teacher read alouds also level the playing field....less able readers are exposed to the same rich and engaging books that fluent readers can read on their own.  Students of all ages benefit from hearing experienced readers share stories.  

Check out this article from Reading Rockets, which discusses the power of read alouds! 

2. Create a classroom library with variety

Fill your classroom libraries with variety!  Make sure to include fiction, non-fiction, picture books, graphic novels, poetry, magazines--basically any printed material you can find.  The more materials students have available--the more likely they are to read. 

3.  Encourage your students to play with words.

Find ways to have fun with words.  Kids always seem to be more engaged when you attach the word "game" to a lesson!  During indoor recess, or even during centers allow students to engage in games like Scrabble, Bananagrams, Bogle, Balderdash or Apples to Apples.   Or, check out some of the literacy games I have available at Mind Spark's store!  These make great additions to literacy centers!

4. Get your kids writing

Writers often have an expansive vocabulary they use to deliver the message of their script.  Teachers can help students develop their personal lexicon by having students write daily!  Students can journal, answer exit tickets or engage in creative writing exercises. 

Check out more writing ideas and ways to write across all subjects in this article from Edutopia, Why Students Should Write in all Subjects. 

5. Read Poetry

You don't have to wait until April (National Poetry Month) to read poetry to your students.  You should be sharing poems, and sharing them often.  Poets have an amazing way they play with words to create magic! Check out a previous post, Top 10 Poetry Activities to Use in Your Classroom, to inspire you to start using poetry in your classroom!

6. Directly teach vocabulary words

Research supports that teachers should directly teach 10 to 12 vocabulary words per week.  Directly teaching doesn't just mean providing the definition of the word and moving on....but using an explicit vocabulary routine to help kids own the word!  Check out this blog post from Voyager-Sopris to give you an explicit vocabulary routine and tips on selecting the right words! 

7. Use unusual words 

Challenge yourself to use 10 dollar words with your students. Ten dollar words are precise, descriptive and uncommon.  Use these "ten dollar" words over and over again, until your students start incorporating these words in their everyday vocabulary.   For example, instead of saying, "That makes me sad," you could say, "That fills my heart with sorrow."   

8. Create opportunities for students to converse 

Communication requires students to use all of the language that swirls around in your classroom.  The language you have been working really hard to help them acquire.  Create opportunities where you dialogue with students, and time where students are able to converse with one another.  Cooperative learning strategies (think, pair, share or think, write, pair, etc.) are great ways to incorporate conversation into your classroom.  

Now that you have a handle on how to make YOUR classroom language rich, how might you help parents?  Check out this post, which gives FOUR simple strategies you can share with your parents to make their home language rich! 

Are you laying the groundwork for literacy success?

Did you know learning word meanings occurs rapidly from birth through adolescence when children hear good language models? 

In fact the average four year old child hears 30 million words from birth to age three.  BUT, children who grow up in a talkative home hear 48 million words by age 4!

When students show up to school from a "language rich" environment, reading is easer for them.  They have been exposed to many words, have background knowledge, understand academic language and have knowledge of specific word meanings.  All of this lays a strong foundation for learning how to read.

However, students who come from a "language poor" environment have a greater chance that reading will be difficult for them.  Some children will come to school already suffering from word poverty.  These kids will know fewer words, simply because the environment they grew up in was not a talkative one.  

The graph below shows how the gap in word knowledge grows when a student enters school. This study was conducted by Andrew Biemiller, professor at the University of Toronto.  As you can see students who enter school with average to advanced word knowledge acquire a vocabulary more quickly and easier than those who enter school less vocabulary adept. 

Why might coming from a talkative home matter?  Well it is proven that children with better vocabularies learn to read more easily than those with a limited vocabulary (Metsala, 1999) 

Adults can facilitate the process of word learning when they do the following things: 

1. Introduce new words

Teach your children new words. You can do this by using children's literature, or by simply telling them a word and explaining it.  During the explanation, make sure you give a kid-friendly definition.  You can also increase their understanding by giving synonyms, antonyms and showing images of the word.

For example: A parent  is reading a non-fiction book about sharks to her son.  She reads the word, "predator" in a sentence and then stops to define the word to her child.  She says, "A predator is an animal that gets food by hunting other animals.  Bears are predators.  Lions are predators. The opposite of a predator is prey." 

2. Elaborate on what a child has said

As you converse with your child, extend their thinking.  Ask them to explain their thoughts by using open ended questions.  After your child has finished verbalizing their thoughts, tell a similar story or add additional details to what they have said. 

For example: When a child talks about their day at school,  a parent could ask: I wonder why?  What might you do differently next time?  How did you..."  Check out this list of open ended questions you could ask to get your child thinking and talking from Parents Magazine. 

3. Confirm and clarify a child's attempt to use new words

If a child uses a word correctly, congratulate them.  Encourage them to compare or contrast words, or even act out or show the word they used.  If  you child uses a word incorrectly, validate their desire to use precise vocabulary and then interject with the word that should have been used.  Then invite your child to repeat the word and try to use it in the right context.

For example: You said the krill was a predator in the story, but I think you meant the krill was prey.  I am so proud of you for using precise vocabulary, but predator means an animal that hunts weaker animals and prey means animals that are vulnerable to being hunted by stronger animals.  Do you want to try using predator in a sentence?  

4. Use unusual words in conversation  

I sometimes refer to unusual words as, "ten dollar words."  These words are precise, descriptive and uncommon. Use these "ten dollar" words over and over again, until your child starts incorporating these words as apart of their everyday vocabulary. 

For example: Wow!  Your dominoes just collapsed!  Collapse means to fall over. 

Check out this video published on Reading Rockets, in which Dr. Rebecca Silverman gives great examples on what parents can do to help build vocabulary with their children

🍂 Books to Celebrate Fall 🍂

Fall is my favorite.  

There is so much to LOVE about this season.  The weather, colors, holidays, smells, food....... So. Many. Things to adore.  This time of year just makes me happy, and I enjoy sharing that happiness with my students.  One of the best ways to pass along appreciation for autumn is to read aloud some fantastic books that celebrate the season.  

Below are EIGHT books that make PERFECT read alouds to honor the best season of the year. 

Hello Autumn! by Shelley Rotner (Prek-2)

This book has AMAZING photos that really capture the beauty of fall.  It shows the changes in animals, plants and landscapes.  It also introduces many important concepts using kid friendly language --hibernation, migration, seed dispersal, etc.  

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne and Lizzy Rockwell (Prek-1)

Follow a little girl's journey as she experiences the fall season with apple and pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving and trick or treating.  A great way to show fun that families can have during the fall season!

Leaves by David Ezra Stein (Prek-1)

A fun little story that tells about a bear cub's first fall.  Leaves is a great way to teach young readers about the changing of the seasons and hibernation.

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell (Prek-2)

Follow a little boy, Tim, as he discovers the life cycle of a pumpkin.  It begins when Tim carves Jack, his fierce and funny pumpkin.  Jack begins to rot, so Tim sets him outside and watches how he changes.  By spring a plant begins to grow!

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Prek-1)

You can't go wrong with a a book by Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert!  Go along on a journey with a man made of leaves as the billowy wind blows! It is a wonderful book to celebrate Autumn and also includes facts on how to identify leaves!

Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins (K-3)

A great non-fiction read with beautiful photography to help students identify leaves!  

Yellow Time by Lauren Stringer (PreK-2)

Young children are sure to love this beautifully written story which vividly details fall.  Stinger does a fantastic job with the lyrical quality of words she chose--really getting the reader to feel as if they are in "yellow time." 

Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre (1-5)

With only 2-3 words per page, gorgeous photography and sophisticated vocabulary--this book accessible to readers and listeners of all ages.  

For more books to celebrate fall check out this list from We Are Teachers or PBS Kids.