Did you realise that picture books contain richer vocabulary than adult TV shows or college graduates’ conversation? While children’s books may appear deceptively simple, good quality children’s books contain words gems that promise to enrich our language skills. Despite the common misunderstanding that children’s books are written for children and therefore must be easy to write, brilliant children’s book authors pore over every word and phrase to create an artefact of lexical beauty.
I wiggle it, amazed, dismayed, too horrified to speak.
Without my teeth, how can I eat? Already I feel weak!
The above excerpt from the picture book, Parts by Tedd Arnold (author of Fly Guy), contains several gems that teachers call Tier 2 words. These special words are less common than the Tier 1 words used in everyday conversations. Tier Two words enable speakers and writers to be more precise with their oral and written language. Mastering Tier 2 words enables hearers to fully comprehend what has been communicated. Understanding and learning is less likely to be lost ‘in translation’. A third tier is also referred to in teacher-talk. Tier 3 words are content specific and are useful for labelling scientific concepts such as photosynthesis, i.e. not required too often in regular communication (unless you function in the world of that content). It is the Tier 2 words that teachers look for and listen to in children’s communication. If a child correctly uses a Tier 2 word in their writing, they are demonstrating they truly know that word.
So, what happens when we find a Tier 2 word in a picture book? Chat about the word with your child. Explain the word’s meaning or look it up in a dictionary if you aren’t sure. Use the word in a few sentences to help your child understand it better. Write down Tier 2 words so you can chat about them again. Perhaps display them on your fridge and create sentences using them every time you open the fridge door. Look for fun ways to help your child assimilate the new words in their vocabulary. Ask your child questions that require them to respond with a Tier 2 word. (This is one of my favourite activities for developing vocabulary.) For example: Instead of asking ‘Were you sad when you said goodbye to Grandma?’ ask, ‘Were you dismayed or despondent when you said goodbye to Grandma?’
Enjoy looking at picture books through fresh eyes. Those fabulous words sprinkled throughout children’s books are treasures for children, and for us too.
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