What is Vocabulary?
There are four types of vocabulary. Listening vocabulary is the words we need to know to understand what we hear. Speaking vocabulary is the words that we use when we speak. Reading vocabulary is the words we need to know to understand what we read. Writing vocabulary is the words we use when we write.
Scientific research tells us that most vocabulary is learned indirectly, but some must be taught directly. Vocabulary instruction should help students develop breadth and depth of knowledge about new words. This means that a student should not only be familiar with words and be able to define them, but they should also be able to use them appropriately in speaking and writing.
Vocabulary is learned through:
- reading or hearing words in a "rich-language" environment
- direct, planned, explicit teaching of vocabulary
- word consciousness that helps students learn words on their own
- teaching of word learning strategies
Word learning strategies that can be beneficial to students are: 1) knowing how to use a dictionary to learn the meaning of a word, 2) knowing how to use word parts to figure out the meaning of words, and 3) knowing how to use context clues to figure out the meaning of a word.
The video below from William D. Simpson shows how to create an interactive word wall for vocabulary.