ABSTRACT
Vocabulary is important for learning, for accessing the curriculum, and also reading and writing. Vocabulary teaching needs to be embedded in the classroom, and any withdrawal support needs to be curriculum-focused. These points are important for all children but are particularly important for those with vocabulary learning needs. These include: a whole school approach, a multifaceted approach, explicitly teach words, multiple exposures, teach words in context, link spoken and written vocabulary, analyse elements of words, go with the child, get excited about words, teach strategies, and work in partnership with families. Children with well-developed spoken language skills are far more likely to become good readers, as knowing lots of words supports their development of phonological awareness skills, along with the ability to make sense of what they have read. Word learning difficulties are either as a result of the environment or within child factors, or both.
