Phonics International

Kerry Hempenstall provides summaries and links to research on vocabulary, oral language and comprehension - an excellent collation of research:

Vocabulary/Oral Language/Comprehension: Some research findings

Kerry Hempenstall Sept 2014

“The process of acquiring and using words in oral and written contexts is a life-long learning process that begins quite critically during the early years. Knowledge of vocabulary meanings affects children’s abilities to understand and use words appropriately during the language acts of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Such knowledge influences the complexities and nuances of children’s thinking, how they communicate in the oral and written languages, and how well they will understand printed texts. …Unless children develop strong vocabularies early in life and continue to deepen and broaden their vocabulary knowledge throughout the schooling years, they will predictably face difficulty in understanding what they read, will not use advanced and mature words in their writing, will have problems with academic subjects, will perform poorly on national achievement tests, and will fall steadily behind their more vocabulary-proficient peers” (p. 333-4).

Sinatra, R., Zygouris-Coe, V., & Dasinger, S. (2011). Preventing a vocabulary lag: What lessons are learned from research. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 28(4), 333-357.

Check out Hempenstall's full list here:


http://nifdi.org/news/hempenstall-blog/ ... h-findings

Essential ingredients to vocabulary and language acquisition: - masses of talking as high-quality as possible from the earliest age - and teach reading very well and provide a language and literature culture in the home and at school.