Vocabulary

Words unlock the doors to a world of understanding.

Vocabulary is one of the most important aspects of a modern curriculum. At ESF, we believe that explicit and engaging vocabulary teaching has the power to promote independence in learners, ignite imaginations and improve attainment.

Research suggests that the typical vocabulary size of a successful pupil leaving secondary school today is 50,000 words. At ESF, your child will be encouraged to expand their vocabulary knowledge through explicit vocabulary teaching in lessons across the curriculum. They will be guided to explore the etymology (origin) and morphology (structure) of words to deeper understand them. Over 90% of the vocabulary of academic texts in school has Latin and Greek origins, therefore teaching etymology has positive implications for learning and cracking the academic code.

Across the course of the academic year, students of all ages will also be introduced to new vocabulary from all aspects of their studies. They will be encouraged to use them in their written and verbal work during lessons and around the school.

What can I do at home to support my child’s vocabulary development and help them to improve their vocabulary and reach that magic 50,000 words when they graduate?

Talk to your child about the new vocabulary they have developed in their studies this week. Can they use the word in a sentence? Can they explain the etymology and morphology of the word to you or give you a definition?
Encourage your child to read for pleasure. Through reading, your child will be exposed to a wealth of vocabulary. Reading helps to learn new words from the context in which they are used, thereby making it easy to remember the new words and more importantly, how and when they are used.
Encourage your child to experiment with new vocabulary in their conversations with you. There are some fantastic apps that you and your child can access for free which give a ‘Word of the Day’. Please see the links below for some suggestions. Why not download one and start a family competition to see who can use the word the most?!

Useful Links