• What is Core Vocabulary?

    Core words are POWER words that can help your child communicate. Core words help move children beyond requesting to communicate needs, make comments, ask questions, interact with others, talk about feelings and more. 85% of what we say is communicated with only 200 basic words- we call these our “core words”. Core words are the most commonly used words in our everyday spoken communication. Core (words) are consistent across place, topic and cognitive ability. 

    Characteristics of Core Vocabulary

    • Limited set of highly useful words
    • Words apply across settings
    • Vocabulary is made up primarily of pronouns, verbs, descriptors, and prepositions
    • Very few nouns are included in a core vocabulary
    • Consistent location of vocabulary

    All Meadowood classrooms use core vocabulary words daily and have large and small core boards available to all students. Here is a copy of a core board for home so parents can try to use these same core words when speaking to their child at home: 

    More information is located on the Project Core website: www.project-core.com. 

    How to use Core words with my child

    • Simplify your longer sentences into shorter phrases that contain core words.
    • Don’t worry about saying sentences that are grammatically correct. 
    • If you have a core board available, point to the words/pictures as you say the words to teach your child. 
    • Model the core words without demanding or expecting your child to immediately repeat or imitate pointing.  Learning takes time. 

    Instead of saying…

    Trying say it with Core

    In a few minutes we are going to the playground.

    We go playground.

    In the sky an airplane is flying.

    Look up! I see airplane.

    You can’t run into the street.

    Stop! Don’t go. 

    I can tell you really like this book.

    You like that book. 

    You're making a face when you eat your vegetables.

    You don’t like that.