07-30-2011, 05:10 PM
[COLOR="#800000"]Vocabulary Assessment Ideas
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Oral vocabulary is one of the most important aspects of a child's early education. Ability to comprehend vocabulary affects a child's reading and speaking abilities. A child with a small vocabulary can suffer from an achievement gap later in life compared to those students with a large vocabulary. The kindergarten through third grade years are vitally important to a child's development as the vocabulary demands of school books from fourth grade on increase in difficulty. Vocabulary weakness can affect not only reading and writing, but also math and performance in subjects like social studies and science.
Types of Vocabulary Assessments
To assess if a child has a general lack of vocabulary knowledge or deeper learning disabilities, he should be evaluated on both receptive and expressive oral vocabulary. Receptive vocabulary is the understanding of spoken words, while expressive vocabulary involves the child actively using or naming a word. Both expressive and receptive areas should be included in a comprehensive assessment. For a more general assessment of a child's vocabulary abilities, there are simpler tests that parents can do on their own. These informal tests include word recognition and comprehension.
Receptive Vocabulary Assessment
For children up to 11 years old, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test assesses receptive vocabulary ability. The child is given four answers to choose from when she is presented with a picture and asked to choose the picture which best identifies the word the instructor tells her. The test demonstrates the linguistic skills and cognitive development of the child.
Expressive Vocabulary Assessment
The Beery Picture Vocabulary Test assesses the expressive vocabulary abilities of children from ages 3 through high school. The test requires the child to name pictures when given the beginning consonant. The Beery Test gives a quick and accurate idea of the child's vocabulary development and verbal aptitude. Another expressive vocabulary test is the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test, or EOWPVT. This test requires the child to name objects, actions and concepts pictured in illustrations.
Informal Assessment Ideas for Grades K-2
To assess word recognition, have the child read an age-appropriate book. When he finishes reading, question him about the details and grammar of the story and ask him to draw conclusions about the story. Ask him if he can identify the genre of the book; for example, is it a fairy tale or mystery? Gauge if he can make any connection from the text he has just read to his own life or other books he has read. To test comprehension, present him with a story that has some of the words missing. When finished reading, ask him if he can remember the story line and select words to fit those missing.
Informal Assessment Ideas for Grades 3-5
To gauge word recognition abilities, create a list of words on one side of a piece of paper with their definitions rearranged on the other side of the page. Ask the child to connect the vocabulary word with its definition. To assess comprehension, have the child read an age-appropriate story. While she reads and when she finishes reading, ask the child to make connections between the story and her life, and also the greater world.
Tips To Improve Vocabulary
There are some key ideas to aid children in improving their vocabulary. First, repetition is important to growth. Read aloud to the child and also help him understand vocabulary as he does his own reading. Keep pushing him to read as much as possible, as that will help his skills grow. Use active elements to aid with learning. Act out definitions for words or have the child make mental pictures of words; if his mental picture is wrong, help him change it.[/COLOR]
Oral vocabulary is one of the most important aspects of a child's early education. Ability to comprehend vocabulary affects a child's reading and speaking abilities. A child with a small vocabulary can suffer from an achievement gap later in life compared to those students with a large vocabulary. The kindergarten through third grade years are vitally important to a child's development as the vocabulary demands of school books from fourth grade on increase in difficulty. Vocabulary weakness can affect not only reading and writing, but also math and performance in subjects like social studies and science.
Types of Vocabulary Assessments
To assess if a child has a general lack of vocabulary knowledge or deeper learning disabilities, he should be evaluated on both receptive and expressive oral vocabulary. Receptive vocabulary is the understanding of spoken words, while expressive vocabulary involves the child actively using or naming a word. Both expressive and receptive areas should be included in a comprehensive assessment. For a more general assessment of a child's vocabulary abilities, there are simpler tests that parents can do on their own. These informal tests include word recognition and comprehension.
Receptive Vocabulary Assessment
For children up to 11 years old, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test assesses receptive vocabulary ability. The child is given four answers to choose from when she is presented with a picture and asked to choose the picture which best identifies the word the instructor tells her. The test demonstrates the linguistic skills and cognitive development of the child.
Expressive Vocabulary Assessment
The Beery Picture Vocabulary Test assesses the expressive vocabulary abilities of children from ages 3 through high school. The test requires the child to name pictures when given the beginning consonant. The Beery Test gives a quick and accurate idea of the child's vocabulary development and verbal aptitude. Another expressive vocabulary test is the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test, or EOWPVT. This test requires the child to name objects, actions and concepts pictured in illustrations.
Informal Assessment Ideas for Grades K-2
To assess word recognition, have the child read an age-appropriate book. When he finishes reading, question him about the details and grammar of the story and ask him to draw conclusions about the story. Ask him if he can identify the genre of the book; for example, is it a fairy tale or mystery? Gauge if he can make any connection from the text he has just read to his own life or other books he has read. To test comprehension, present him with a story that has some of the words missing. When finished reading, ask him if he can remember the story line and select words to fit those missing.
Informal Assessment Ideas for Grades 3-5
To gauge word recognition abilities, create a list of words on one side of a piece of paper with their definitions rearranged on the other side of the page. Ask the child to connect the vocabulary word with its definition. To assess comprehension, have the child read an age-appropriate story. While she reads and when she finishes reading, ask the child to make connections between the story and her life, and also the greater world.
Tips To Improve Vocabulary
There are some key ideas to aid children in improving their vocabulary. First, repetition is important to growth. Read aloud to the child and also help him understand vocabulary as he does his own reading. Keep pushing him to read as much as possible, as that will help his skills grow. Use active elements to aid with learning. Act out definitions for words or have the child make mental pictures of words; if his mental picture is wrong, help him change it.[/COLOR]
