Kindergarten Vocabulary Worksheets
Related ELA Standard: RL.K.4
There is no doubt that students that have a developed vocabulary become better readers and can understand what they read faster and more efficiently than those that cannot. At the Kindergarten level we encourage teachers to start with original sight words based on the system that their school follows. We often see this list to consists of just under fifty terms. There are several different methods to help them make these words part of their world. We cover a great number of these strategies at the bottom of this page. After they have a handle on their sight words, they are ready to bounce to the next level. We tend to encourage teachers and students to focus on high-use terms. These worksheets are filled with these valuable utility words to help students elevate their vocabulary for use when reading.
Kindergarten Vocabulary Worksheets To Print:
Weather - Cut and glue each picture above the term that describes it.
In the Park - Label all of the things you will commonly find in this picture.
Number It - Match each word to its picture using the number.
Trace and Go - Trace the word and then write it. In the box, write the letter of
the picture that goes with the word.
Veggies - Name all of the vegetables that we throw your way.
Colors - Which crayon matches the term in dotted text.
Foods - Name all of the common foods we present you with.
New Terms - Pick a term that you recently just learn of and run with it.
Animals - Name all of the creatures we have set up for you.
Write and Draw - Name a vocab term and then bring it to life in a drawing.
How to Increase Your Kindergarteners Vocabulary
Many different studies have concluded that there is a direct correlation with the size of a student's global vocabulary and their success as they progress through school. Research from a 2015 found that this correlation was expanded to include success in reading level, math skills, and overall behavior. These qualities form a foundation for success for students. There is a basic litmus test as to where the baseline of vocabulary is formed for youngsters. At age one, they should be saying a handful of words. At a year and half, they should have two dozen discernible words. Then they should have a word explosion and have near one hundred terms by the time they are two years of age. While it is not a concern if children are slightly behind, if there is a significant delay, we would recommend consulting a speech and language pathologist.
There are a wide range of different techniques that you can use to put students into the fast lane of learning new words in Kindergarten. The easiest way to achieve this is to constantly talk to your students and ask them about their day. At this age, their most favorite thing to talk about is themselves and the world that is constantly showing them new things along the way. My best conversations with my students are always on Monday and Friday. These two simple prompts will elicit chunks of conversation: 1) How was your weekend? What did you do? 2) What do you have planned for the weekend?
Students with high vocabulary banks often have a literacy routine of sorts. This is in school and at home. Many teachers will start and end their day with reading students a short excerpt of an engaging tale. Parents will often read a book before bed with their children. This serves several purposes which include language immersion and even a soothing routine for the children. But in the end, it is all about helping them experience more and more. We encourage both parents and teachers to have discussions with youngsters while reading. Ask them questions and explain words that you feel will be unfamiliar for them.
Your classroom should have a print filled atmosphere. This should include having a great deal of posters and labels to encourage students to use their own language. You should also have tons of manipulatives available for students such as magnetic letters where they can make their own words. I also find that having magazine and newspaper clippings available are helpful. Focus on placing things on there that students will want to read. Even odd things like a local restaurant menu or weekly comic strip can help students see the importance of learning new words.