Building Your Child's Vocabulary

Name Books

We know that children learn and respond to their names, so it makes sense that one of the first words they learn to read and write would be their name. They are fascinated by anything containing their name. You might have heard them say "That's my name" or "That's a letter in my name." We can promote vocabulary development by simply connecting new objects and labels to letters in a child's name.

Create a Name Book

• On the cover page, write your child's name and let her draw a picture
• On each of the following pages, write one letter of the child's name
• On each page, draw or cut out pictures that begin with the same sound of the letter on the page.

Create a Book about What Your Child Likes

• Create a book about the things your child likes to do or eat.
• Find or draw pictures to illustrate the text.

Example:	Ryan Likes
Page 1:	Ryan likes books.
Pages 2-4:	Repeat the beginning Ryan likes three times, writing it at the bottom of the page and attaching a picture
Page 5:	But Ryan doesn't like ________________.

Create a Family Book

Using the text provided, create a paper book about your family by attaching photos of the members of your family.

Questions to Ask About Names

• How many letters does it have?
• How many tall letters?
• How many short letters?
• How many letters with sticks?
• How many letters with a circle?
• How many letters with dots?
• How many parts does it have? Clap it. Count it.
• Do you know anyone else with your name?
• Tell me a word that starts like your name.

Adult-Recorded Stories

In an adult-recorded story, you are the scribe who writes down the story that your child tells. The rule is simple: record what the child says, not what you would like her to say. It's a magical discovery for your child to realize that her words can be written down and read again and again.

• Have your child tell you what she wants you to write or ask her to describe what her drawing says.
• After you have written your child's story at the bottom of the drawing or on a blank page, read it to her.
• Draw a colored line beneath each word as you reread your child's story.
• Ask your child to read what you have written. As she reads, point to each word.
• Help your child write (or scribble) her name at the bottom of the story, so as to sign her story as an author signs his story.
• Give her the choice of drawing a picture to go with the story or acting out the story with you.
• Mount the story and/or drawing on the refrigerator or at a special place in your home.

Follow Your Child's Lead

• Ask questions that require your child to talk in sentences, instead of just a "yes" or "no" answer.
• Role play with your child.
• Praise independent problem solving.