How To Improve Vocabulary Through Reading

One of the best ways to expand your child’s vocabulary is to read and talk to him. This is very true especially with special needs children. When you always talk to the child, you are unknowingly helping him to expand his vocabulary and ignite his curiosity. Vocabulary and the need for knowledge and information are two crucial things in learning.

When a child wants to know about something and he knows he can get it through reading, it is enough motivation to want him to read. In the same manner, if the child reads more, he will have more chances of getting more words into his vocabulary bank.

The “learning readiness” factor is different from one child to another because we have the so-called individual differences. It applies to learning and reading readiness as well. So how can you help your special needs child get ready to read and develop his vocabulary?

How To Develop Vocabulary Through Reading

Reading allows children to encounter new words. There are actually more words used in written language compared to spoken language. Because of this, a child will learn more new words through reading. The more you read to a child, the more he will be able to develop his vocabulary.

To further help the child develop his vocabulary, parents and teachers should consider the following pointers:

• Remember that the more times a word is heard, the more it will be remembered. So if you want your child to master a word, repeat it many times. Also use the word regularly in conversations involving the child.

• The words that are commonly heard at home are the words that the child will most likely master. So if you are teaching your child a word, ask the other members of the family to use the word.

• Reading is one the best ways to develop a child’s vocabulary.

• When a child learns to read, vocabulary development follows, thus, reading is crucial.

It is important that a child develops his vocabulary. In the same manner, it is equally important that a child learns to read to further improve his vocabulary. Parents and teachers should help the child understand the importance of reading.

They should also introduce reading as an interesting aspect of learning. This can be done by using attractive, easy to understand and educational reading materials – one like POPS resources. And proper guidance and support should also be part and parcel of any reading and vocabulary activities.

Article Source: Serverforever.com
About the Author: With seventeen children’s books currently in print, and with sixteen new books to be published in 2007, Marie Dunleavy is an accomplished children’s books author. Her books and associated resources were originally developed for a differently abled child in her own family but are now used for children with special needs in classrooms in U.K. and Ireland. For more information about the resources, please visit http://www.pops-resources.com