Key Principles of Effective Vocabulary Teaching:

The overarching principle is that all children will benefit if they:

- are exposed to enriched vocabulary within an environment where the spoken and written word are appreciated

- have opportunities to enjoy words

- experience explicit teaching of useful words

- learn strategies for independent word learning

Principle 1: A whole school approach

• Involve everyone across the school
• Teach vocabulary across all ages and subjects

Principle 2: Multi-faceted approach

• Multi-sensory learning
• Integrated into every aspect of learning
• Vary approach to meet needs of learners

Principle 3: Explicitly teaching words

• Teach important words
• Breadth and depth

Principle 4: Use multiple exposures

• Children need to hear or read a new word many times
• They need opportunities to link new knowledge to what they already know

Principle 5: Teach words in context

• Provide practical learning opportunities
• Use the words in a variety of sentences

Principle 6: Link oral and written vocabulary

• Spoken vocabulary
• Reading
• Written vocabulary

Principle 7: Analyse elements of the word

• The child connects the phonological (speech sound), semantic (meaning) and grammatical elements together to form a representation of the word
• Prefix /root word/ suffix

Principle 8: Go with the child (at the right rate)

• Challenge but not overwhelm
• Ensure time for in-depth teaching

Principle 9: Get excited about words

• Build a word-rich environment
• Celebrate words
• Play word games

Principle 10: Teach strategies

• Children need to develop their own strategies
• Strategies are needed for spoken and written word learning

Principle 11: Work in partnership with families

• Get the whole family involved in word learning
• Support home language learning