Written by Safinah Hassan and Joanne Tan Shi Huey

Our Main Literacy Programme (MLP) is designed to empower students on their exciting journey toward literacy mastery. While teaching students to read and spell individual words is important, truly effective instruction goes much further. Vocabulary serves as the foundation of literacy success, and within the MLP classroom, it becomes a powerful key that unlocks deeper understanding in both reading and writing.

The wonderful news is that vocabulary instruction doesn’t need to exist as a separate, isolated lesson. Instead, it can and should be seamlessly woven throughout every aspect of your MLP lessons, creating rich, authentic opportunities for students to discover and embrace new words in meaningful contexts.

Teaching Vocabulary Through Context

Building vocabulary through context is one of the most natural and effective approaches available to educators. When we introduce new words within engaging reading passages, creative writing prompts, or interactive spelling activities, we help students connect real meaning to new terms. Rather than presenting students with disconnected word lists, we can thoughtfully select vocabulary that naturally appears in the stories and texts they’re already exploring. This approach allows students to discover both definitions and the beautiful nuances of word usage as they unfold within compelling narratives.

Practical strategies to try:

• Select engaging reading passages that feature target vocabulary and explore meanings together within the story
• Pause during read-alouds to celebrate and discuss new words as they appear in context
• Create vibrant “word walls” featuring context sentences from classroom texts to bring words to life.
• Design fun context clues games where students become word detectives, inferring meanings from surrounding text
• Engage students in collaborative writing activities, naturally embedding and discussing target vocabulary
• Encourage students to become vocabulary “hunters” in their independent reading, then share their exciting discoveries
• Explore the fascinating multiple meanings and subtle nuances of words as they appear across different stories

Repetition, Reinforcement, and Personal Connections

The beauty of effective vocabulary learning lies in thoughtful repetition and meaningful reinforcement. Students might first encounter a new word during an engaging reading session, then practice spelling it during phonics work, incorporate it into their creative writing, and hear it again during lively class discussions. This varied exposure strengthens both understanding and retention in remarkable ways.

Encouraging students to forge personal connections with new words by linking them to their own experiences, creating illustrations, or composing original sentences which transforms vocabulary learning into a deeply personal and memorable experience. This multisensory approach helps anchor words in long-term memory, moving far beyond surface-level memorisation.

Engaging strategies to implement:

• Revisit and celebrate new words across different lesson segments (reading, writing, speaking activities)
• Establish vocabulary journals where students record new words, definitions, and personal connections
• Incorporate energising vocabulary “quick reviews” at the start or end of each lesson
• Encourage students to create drawings or storyboards that bring new words to life
• Facilitate exciting “word of the day” routines, inviting students to use words in sentences about their own lives
• Weave new vocabulary naturally into group discussions, encouraging students to use and explain them confidently
• Partner students to quiz each other on recent vocabulary using flashcards or engaging digital tools

Vocabulary in “Show, Not Tell” Writing

Integrating vocabulary into “Show, Not Tell” writing techniques creates exciting opportunities for deeper learning. When we encourage students to describe actions, feelings, or settings using vivid, precise language, we expand their expressive abilities and deepen their understanding of word choice. Highlighting and celebrating effective vocabulary choices reinforces both meaning and usage in powerful ways.

Creative approaches to explore:

• Model the use of vivid vocabulary in your own writing, then invite students to identify the most descriptive words
• Challenge students to transform basic sentences by replacing simple words with precise, expressive vocabulary
• Provide inspiring “Show, Not Tell” prompts and brainstorm descriptive language together before independent writing
• Use supportive sentence stems that encourage students to complete thoughts using target vocabulary
• Host collaborative peer editing sessions where students offer suggestions for richer word choices in each other’s work
• Create helpful anchor charts of descriptive words that serve as references during writing tasks
• Use dynamic role-play or pantomime activities where students “act out” vocabulary, then write about what they demonstrated

Interactive Activities

Interactive vocabulary activities transform learning into an enjoyable and memorable experience. Games, word sorts, and matching exercises make vocabulary acquisition both engaging and effective. When we sort words by meaning, part of speech, or phonetic patterns, we reinforce vocabulary knowledge while simultaneously strengthening phonics skills, creating wonderful opportunities for comprehensive literacy growth.

Fun activities to try:

• Design matching games that connect vocabulary words with definitions or pictures
• Create word sorts that group vocabulary by meaning, sound patterns, or parts of speech
• Incorporate engaging digital games or apps that provide immediate, encouraging feedback
• Organise friendly small group competitions like vocabulary bingo or charades
• Facilitate collaborative word webs or mind maps that build meaningful connections between target vocabulary
• Invite students to become teachers themselves, presenting new vocabulary words and examples to the group
• Use hands-on tactile activities, such as building words with letter tiles, for kinesthetic learners

Assessment and Reflection

Meaningful assessment and reflection activities help solidify vocabulary growth in lasting ways. When we ask students to use new words in context, reflect on meanings, or teach words to their peers, we ensure vocabulary becomes integrated into their active language repertoire rather than simply memorised for tests. These approaches foster genuine engagement and promote sustained, meaningful learning.

Effective assessment strategies:

• Use exit ticket activities where students write or share sentences featuring new words
• Provide vocabulary checklists that empower students to self-assess their understanding and usage
• Help students maintain portfolios showcasing their vocabulary growth in writing samples
• Facilitate reflective “word talks” where students share how they’ve used new vocabulary in their daily lives
• Conduct informal, low-pressure vocabulary games and quick oral challenges
• Encourage students to evaluate and discuss which vocabulary words they found most interesting or useful
• Invite students to develop and present mini-lessons on their favorite new vocabulary words

Conclusion

Integrating vocabulary into MLP lessons represents so much more than memorising definitions, it’s about building meaningful connections, providing rich repeated exposures, and encouraging confident, creative use of language. When vocabulary instruction is thoughtfully embedded throughout our lessons, we enhance reading comprehension, elevate writing sophistication, and strengthen overall communication skills.

Our ultimate goal is inspiring: we want students to leave each lesson not only with new words in their repertoire, but with the confidence and creativity to use them authentically in their own communication, both spoken and written. When vocabulary learning becomes this natural and joyful, we truly empower our students to become confident, expressive communicators.

References

1. Edutopia. (2023). 4 Ways to Teach Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension.
2. Reading Rockets. (2023). Teaching Vocabulary.
3. Arts Integration. (2025). 6 Vocabulary Strategies for Student Success.
4. McKeown, M.G. (2019). Effective Vocabulary Instruction Fosters Knowing Words.
5. LD@School. (2021). Integrating Vocabulary Instruction with Reading.
6. HMH Education Blog. (2024). Evidence-Based Vocabulary Intervention Strategies.
7. Keys to Literacy. (2024). Vocabulary Instruction for English Language Learners.