Superintendent’s Chat
Power of Vocabulary
One of the most powerful
predictors of a person’s income is the extent of his or her vocabulary. Numerous research findings support that
statement. Consider the following study:
As one class graduated from a large university, a
group of researchers gave them an English vocabulary test and then tracked
those people for twenty years. Strange as it may seem, those who knew the definitions
of the most words were in the highest income group twenty years later. The
researchers discovered that the people who, in the
beginning,
had the worst vocabulary scores were in the lowest income group twenty years
later. There wasn’t a single exception.
In another study, the executive and supervisory
personnel of thirty-nine
manufacturing plants were given extensive testing.
All of them, from the
lowest level of supervisor to the top of the
executive elite rated higher than
average on leadership qualities. Between all the
leaders, there was a close similarity in leadership ability. But there were
striking differences on the vocabulary test. Basically, the
higher the person’s score on the vocabulary test,
the higher their position in that company. The
presidents and vice presidents of the companies had an average score of 236.The
average score for supervisors was 140. Foremen averaged 114.www.youmeworks.com/vocabularyraises.html
p. 1
Dr. Heidi Jacobs is one of
When you were young, you didn’t know the definitions
of very many words, so you didn’t
understand much of what people around you
were saying. As you learned more words, your
understanding grew. Knowing the definition of even one more word makes a
difference because if there is only one word you don’t know, you’ll often miss
more of what’s being said than that one word. The word is part of a sentence
that you won’t completely understand. The sentence is part of a paragraph. One
unknown word can create a small gap in your understanding of the entire
subject. www.youmeworks.com/vocabularyraises.html
p. 1
Increasing the vocabulary of
our students has been one of my educational priorities and a need that I have
repeatedly communicated to our principals and school board. One builds vocabulary by reading and
listening. I wrote a paper on increasing
our high school rigor last fall. In that
paper, I listed the 75 vocabulary words that one district in New York State
requires its seniors to master and asked that our high school administer that
same survey to open some eyes. The first
15 words included the following:
Analysis of How Shonto
Seniors Measure Up on a Vocabulary List Given to Incoming Seniors at the
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# of Shonto Seniors Who
Can Correctly Pronounce the Word |
# of Shonto Seniors Who
Can Correctly Identify the Part of Speech of the Word |
# of Shonto Seniors Who
Can Provide an Accurate Definition of
the Word |
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1.
acclimate - verb - adapt; accustom; to get used to |
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2.
affectation - noun - unnatural manner; odd behavior; quirk |
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3.
alacrity - noun - promptness; readiness; timeliness |
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4.
ambience - noun - atmosphere; environment; surroundings |
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5.
appalled - adjective - shocked; dismayed; horrified |
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6.
ascertain - verb - determine; find out for certain; discover |
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7.
blight - noun - something that causes destruction; ruin; deterioration |
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8.
brigand - noun - bandit; plunderer; thief |
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9.
bulwark - noun - rampart; breakwater; seawall |
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10.
burgeoned - verb - expanded; blossomed; flourished |
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11.
cadaverous - adjective - pallid; livid; gaunt; emaciated |
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12.
callow - adjective - youthful; naïve; immature |
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13.
carnage - noun - destruction; flesh of slain animals |
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14.
commiserate - verb - console; sympathize; feel compassion for |
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15.
dearth - noun- scarcity; famine; inadequate supply |
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Those words are most
challenging, but it does suggest that that school district has high
expectations for its kids. We do no
favor to our kids by expecting less. Last
year, I taught a group of 8 high performing middle school students in a
corrective reading program for 45 minutes a day. These were really bright students. They learned everything quickly. I felt that all were capable of excellence and
could compete with any kids anywhere in the world if they put in the
effort. But I was surprised by their
overall weakness in vocabulary. I made
teaching words my priority. They learned
hundreds and hundreds of new words.
Our playing field is not
level, but we can level it. We must.
Each year, one third of
developmentally behind their peers and without the skills
necessary to succeed at
grade level. When children begin behind their peers,
catching up, especially
without additional assistance, is difficult and
unlikely. Children
from low-income communities
receive as few as 25 hours of one-to-one reading
time by age 5, compared to middle-income
children who enjoy up to 1,700 hours of one-to-one
reading time before kindergarten.
These children typically enter kindergarten with
one fourth the vocabulary of their middle-income
peers. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/ehs/ehs_resrch/reports/lang_literacy/lang_research.html
p. 1.
We intend to do something
about that. Our reading consultant, Jan
Hume, has been working with our K-8 staff.
She has already identified teaching vocabulary as a staff development priority
for next year, and we are building that training into the budget. I have asked Dr.
I read some interesting
research while preparing this article.
It said that the mother’s use of language is critical to vocabulary
development. Even more important than
saying a lot of words to your child is using “lots of variety” in your
words. Rather than always using the
word, “purple,” the next time try to use the word “violet.” Rather than saying, “hungry,” the next time
use, “famished” or “starved.” Word variety
really helps to increase vocabulary.
They listen to you, and they learn. http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/learning/LD5-1.html
p. 1. Finally, start reading to your
child as soon as he or she is 16 months old.
The research proves it makes a difference.
Students, get into the habit
of constantly learning new words and then using them in your speaking and
writing. A goal of three new words per
day would work wonders in your academic success.