“Vocabulary words are the building blocks of the internal learning structure. Vocabulary is also the tool to better define a problem, seek more accurate solutions, etc.”
― Ruby K. Payne, Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities
Have you ever tried to explain something to someone or solve a problem and you just can't find the right words to describe what you want them to know? As a teacher, finding the right words can often be a challenge. In art I am continually needing to change the way I explain or describe something in order to meet the diverse needs of my students. In serving over 600 children a week you can imagine the plethora of different learning styles and levels of understanding that I encounter. My job is to guide my students to understand and to help prepare them to be successful in art, academics and in life. Art can be a valuable tool for enhancing understanding of vocabulary. Students are constantly challenged to learn new words and techniques in the art classroom. Words that may seem common to me might be something my students have never heard of depending on their age, level of vocabulary or exposure to the topic.
When I introduce a new art vocabulary word I try to have students repeat the word with me and I model it for them or have them model what the word means. For instance, when we studied line at the beginning of the school year we looked at 5 basic types of line; horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved and zig zag. Students had the opportunity to draw examples of the various lines on the board. We also practiced what the lines look like with our bodies. We also used the words in a sentence together. Then the students actually used the types of line in their artwork. When the artwork was finished, they assessed whether their fellow classmates had all the line types we discussed in their artwork.
Ruby Payne was right, our internal learning structure depends on our grasp of vocabulary. Vocabulary words are the building blocks. Without an extensive vocabulary to communicate in the world, our expression, understanding, and problem solving is limited. Let us all work together to ensure that our children have everything they need to express themselves, understand the world they live in and to problem solve everyday. Parents, grandparents, and teachers can all help by reading with them, discussing new words and their meanings, giving examples to enhance the meaning, and talking with them about the new things they are learning in school. Most of us already do this, but with a new focus on vocabulary we can really raise the bar and help our students have the tools they need to be successful.
