July 10, 202
Core Vocabulary Boards: Giving all students the chance to communicate
Core Vocabulary Boards give students a visual communication tool and a voice
Imagine having a question, a need, or a thought that you want to share - but can’t. Imagine your frustration with unanswered questions, unmade clarifications, and unshared understanding.
For hundreds of nonverbal learners, English language learners, and other students across the district, this is their reality. But thanks to Core Vocabulary Boards, that reality is changing in hundreds of schools and classrooms.
Last year, for example, a second-grade student was regularly frustrated, unfocused, and misbehaving. But this past year, he was communicating, focused, and enthusiastically learning with the school’s newly-implemented Core Vocabulary Boards - printable, colorful displays featuring 50 frequently-used words accompanied by visual cues.
Said Nicole Bennett, Speech Language Pathologist at Southwest Baltimore Charter School, “This student’s transformation has been amazing. Before, he had no way to communicate. Now, he happily runs by, tells me where he’s headed, and is even making progress on sounding out words. Core Vocabulary Boards are making this happen.”
The boards allow nonverbal students to point to the words they want to convey. From “yes” and “no” to “ready,” “eat,” “need,” and “don’t,” students have a slate of frequently used word-options. According to research, core words make up 80% of what we communicate throughout a given day.
“When these students enter rooms and see the boards, their faces light up,” said Victoria Genovese, Speech Language Pathologist at Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle School, which also uses the boards. “They are so relieved to know that they can participate. They can express themselves! It’s so beautiful to see.”
Through an aligned, district-wide initiative, students at many city schools are benefitting from Core Vocabulary Boards. Educators are now placing weatherproof versions on playgrounds and sending them home so they can be used with their families. And educators are finding that their visual cues help ALL students.
“In many cases, our bright nonverbal students have a hard time communicating their understanding of topics,” explained Nicole Bennett. “That’s now changing, and in the process, it’s enhancing students’ learning and increasing their confidence - academically and socially.”
“Whether nonverbal or not, many young ones may thrive as visual learners,” said Genovese. “Core Vocabulary Boards allow for that flexible approach to understanding. We’re seeing students of all learning styles use them and enjoy them. It’s truly expanding how we all can communicate, teach, and learn in classrooms.”