How to Engage Children in Reading for Vocabulary Growth

TL;DR

To effectively engage children in reading and expand their vocabulary, use interactive methods such as drama, music, and storytelling. Explicitly teach vocabulary by breaking down meanings, exploring synonyms and antonyms, and relating words to their etymology. It’s essential to adapt teaching methods to different age groups, ensuring that vocabulary instruction is both fun and age-appropriate.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Word Up  a series of podcasts hosted   by Oxford University Press  with Helen Prince and guests In this podcast the word perform is going to come  up and we thought would be quite interesting to   have a little look at the etymology behind that  word so this word came around in around the 1300s   and meant to carry into effect ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 The word "perform" has a rich history, initially denoting fulfillment and the realization of dreams.
• 🖐️ Over time, it gained a theatrical and musical connotation, representing acting, singing, and playing instruments on stage.
• 🧑‍🏫 Teaching vocabulary explicitly involves unpicking the meanings, exploring synonyms, antonyms, and the etymology of words.
• 🤕 Vocabulary instruction should be age-appropriate and can include drama, music, and other engaging activities.
• 🫠 Vocabulary plays a crucial role in reading comprehension and must be taught alongside other elements such as background knowledge and text structure.
• 🧡 Different tiers of vocabulary, ranging from everyday language to subject-specific terminology, should be addressed at different stages of primary education.
• 👾 Games like Trivial Pursuit can support vocabulary development through engaging and interactive experiences.
• 😀 Personalizing vocabulary resources, such as posters, with student faces can enhance ownership and engagement.
• ✍️ Learning new words, such as "spontaneous" or "unprecedented," can have a lasting impact and empower students in their reading and writing.

Questions & Answers

Q: What did "perform" originally mean in the 1300s?

In the 1300s, "perform" meant to carry into effect and fulfill what is demanded or required.

Q: When did the theatrical and musical sense of "perform" emerge?

The theatrical and musical sense of "perform" emerged in the 1600s.

Q: How did the verb form of "perform" in Middle English differ from its current meaning?

In Middle English, the verb form of "perform" meant to make or construct, produce or bring about, as well as to make dreams come true.

Q: Can you provide an example of a musical artist whose lyrics have been used to teach vocabulary?

Stormzy, an English rapper, is known for using lyrics that are passionate and have depth, making them suitable for teaching vocabulary in educational settings.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The word "perform" originated in the 1300s, meaning to carry into effect and fulfill what is demanded or required.

• In the 1600s, the word took on a theatrical and musical sense, referring to acting, singing, or playing a musical instrument on stage.

• The verb form of the word in Middle English meant to make or construct, produce or bring about, as well as to make dreams come true.