Combating the Word Gap

The “word gap” represents a disparity between kids from upper economic level families and kids from lower economic level families. Specifically, it means that kids from lower level families hear fewer words than their counterparts in higher income families. As it turns out, thousands fewer. This word gap means those kids who hear fewer words understand less of their language. This can manifest itself in many ways, with more frustration in school, lower grades and lower levels of success among them.

A recent Stanford University study, (check out a video with the researchers talking about
their findings here ), noted differences in recognition speed and other factors among toddlers, echoing
“the landmark Hart and Risley study in 1995” that “ identified “remarkable differences” in the early vocabulary experiences of young children.”
(This quote taken from the NAEYC website story found here. This is a great article with lots of ideas and resources for parents and teachers concerned with this issue. It provides ways to address the issue and ideas for making a difference.)

Here’s one more. If you have kids, (any age), try this. Grab a dictionary and open to the first page. Take the first word, (if that is too common, find one that isn’t), and read the entry to your kids. Let them roll their eyes. Read the definition. When they ask what you think you are doing, tell them that you want to know more about your language, and you want them to know more too.

Do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. Keep going, each day. One word, that’s all. Don’t be surprised when your kids start remembering the definitions. Don’t be surprised, but be encouraging, when they reach for the dictionary instead of asking you what this or that word means when they are reading for homework. Don’t be surprised when they start looking up words of their own to share.

Will this fix the problem? No. The word gap needs to be addressed in both the home and the school system, as well as a much larger approach designed by people way smarter than me. But, what it can do is create a family standard. A standard that shows kids and the adults in the house that knowledge of the language is important. Pronunciation counts. Understanding is key. It sets a standard that shows that it is not enough to “get by”. To excel is the goal. 

Sometimes it's a small approach that can make a big difference.