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Children enjoy听sharing in the joy of reading with their families. Research shows that reading books together holds many benefits, including helping children build vocabulary knowledge鈥攁n important part of literacy learning.听Vocabulary听refers to the words we understand when reading or listening and to the words we use when writing and speaking. Learning vocabulary in the context of a book can encourage your child鈥檚 interest in understanding and using听new words.

Here are some ways to foster vocabulary knowledge as you read together. The examples are from the book听Giraffes Can鈥檛 Dance,听by Giles Andreae, in English, but you can use the following strategies as you read to your child from a variety of books in听any language.

• Preview the book to choose new words to share with your child.听Before reading with your child, look through the book and find words they may not know. Plan to pause to explain these听new words.
• Give a brief explanation of the new word.听Use words your child already knows as you define new words. For example, in听Giraffes Can鈥檛 Dance, your child may not know the word听rooted听in 鈥淕erald simply froze up. He was听rooted听to the spot.鈥� You can define听rooted听as 鈥渇rozen in听place, stuck.鈥�
• Provide a synonym. Offering a different word that shares a similar meaning is helpful. You could share, for example, that another word for听rooted听is听unmoving.
• Ask your child to repeat the word with you.听Say the target word (rooted) together.
• Connect the new word to something your child already knows.听Think about what your child already has experience with. For example, you may say, 鈥淩emember when I dropped my plate, and I was so surprised I didn鈥檛 move? I was听rooted听in place for a moment.鈥� You can help your child notice how words and concepts fit into different categories or experiences听they know.
• Use objects, pictures, and movements to demonstrate the meaning of the new word.听Point to illustrations in the book that help explain the new word. Make use of objects and/or movements to demonstrate a new word鈥檚 meaning (make a game of dancing and then suddenly being rooted to听the spot).
• Read the book with the new word multiple times.听Children often enjoy rereading their favorite books. Explaining words during repeated readings can help your child remember听new words.
• Use the word at other times. Use the new word when you are not reading the book. For example, if you see a character in another book or in a movie who鈥檚 rooted to the spot, point out the expression and remind your child of the听word听rooted.

Reading together is a great way to introduce new vocabulary to your child and support听literacy learning.

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