Comments on Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read: Use your words!

It's so funny, I actually just did a big training ...

2009-10-21T08:37:27.665-07:00

It's so funny, I actually just did a big training with my students where I stressed exactly what you were talking about in your blog. One example I used was that I was walking down the street in front of a dad and a three year old, and she asked if a store we passed was closed, and the dad said, "yes, it's being renovated. That's means it's getting fixed up." Maybe "renovated" will pop up in that 3 year old's vocabulary as a result! The sad thing is the kids we work with (in low-income neighborhoods) do not have these giant vocabularies, I try to have conversations with my students about realizing when kids are using the big words and encouraging them, and there is generally silence in the room - the kids just aren't exposed to the words in their lives, so aren't using them. My organization (Jumpstart) is working hard to change that!

Another great post, TJ! My mom taught me the delig...

2009-10-16T14:39:48.309-07:00

Another great post, TJ! My mom taught me the delight of a varied vocabulary from an early age. I find poetry to be a fun and fantastic way to introduce unusual words into my daughter's vocabulary. That and anything by Roald Dahl!

Thanks for the food for thought!

Good post. We've never used baby-talk with our ch...

2009-10-16T14:26:58.581-07:00

Good post. We've never used baby-talk with our children, and so friends and family and people at church have always been amused hearing our small children speak like mini-adults. Just earlier today, I taught my 5-year-old and 4-year-old the words "famished" and "parched" and their meanings. Then when my husband came home for lunch, they said, "Daddy, what's for lunch? We're famished and parched."

I LOVE that you know a little girl who asked her mother to intervene. I think that will be the next word we teach.

Once again TJ you have written and insightful piec...

2009-10-16T13:00:38.728-07:00

Once again TJ you have written and insightful piece here. I am passing this onto all my friends with kids so they can get the GOOD word!

Children do have brilliant, spongy minds. And you...

2009-10-16T09:23:18.695-07:00

Children do have brilliant, spongy minds. And you're spot on that this affords parents the opportunity to instill sophisticated communication skills at an early age; one only needs to speak to children like they are intelligent [little] adults!

I loved your excellent idea to not "dumby down" vo...

2009-10-16T09:15:43.804-07:00

I loved your excellent idea to not "dumby down" vocabulary too much for kids. Next time I'm eating with granddaughter Maddy, I'll remember your suggestion of using words such as "delectable" vs. "yum yum." Very insightful.

Great stuff! Should it have been called "Choose Y...

2009-10-16T07:53:53.429-07:00

Great stuff! Should it have been called "Choose Your Words"?