Overcoming Challenges to Effective Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction
Conversational Turns
Despite research showing that learners benefit more from language instruction that is conversational in nature, many reading and literacy programs continue to rely heavily on "skill and drill" style reading instruction. Effective oral language and vocabulary instruction involves building Opportunities to Respond (OTR) into classroom activities in the form of multiple conversational turns.
Explicit Vocabulary Instruction
But as Annemarie Hindman, a professor in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University, writes, the classroom management involved in making this happen can be a big challenge:
โIn the average classroom, however, teacher talk dominates, with relatively little explicit vocabulary instruction. One reason for this is logistical: With one teacher and 20 or more children, child talk can be hard to manage while keeping everyone on task. Another reason is structural: A hard look at popular curricula reveals little focus on vocabulary and rich language. Two conclusions follow: First, many early childhood and elementary school teachers would benefit from support in building studentsโ oral language; and second, this may not be an easy task.โ
So, what might effective vocabulary instruction look like?
โข Write a small set of vocabulary from the lesson material on the whiteboard
โข Create or find a writing, speaking, and listening activity to use that vocabulary as a OTR (e.g. conversation cards, show and tell time, etc.)
โข Prepare additional contexts for students to use of that set of vocabulary
โข Include visual classroom materials that support kid-friendly definitions
Sources:
Romeo, Rachel, qtd. in Trafton, Anne, "Back-and-Forth Exchanges Boost Childrenโs Brain Response to Language." MIT NEWS, 2018. https://news.mit.edu/2018/conversation-boost-childrens-brain-response-language-0214
Wang, Linlin and Annemarie Hindman, "Coaching and Oral Language: Suggestions on Bringing Oral Language to the Early Childhood Classroom." Literacy Today (2022). https://publuu.com/flip-book/24429/135735/page/14
About AskMeno
AskMeno is dedicated to helping early childhood leaders build the foundational oral language and social skills necessary for their young scholarsโ reading comprehension and emotional wellbeing. AskMeno provides a play-based, teacher-facilitated supplemental curriculum that systematically and explicitly develops oral language and social skills through scaffolded, fun, and engaging learning activities.
