The power of talking
Talking is an essential learning tool. We often marvel at how our children acquire new words as they grow. By 18 months, a child uses around 20 words and understands many more. At 3 years old, they can say 330 words, and by 5 years old, their vocabulary can expand to as many as 2500 words, with an even greater understanding of additional words.*1 Each new experience, place, or person helps them add to their vocabulary. Remember the first time your child saw a butterfly, asked what it was, and repeated the word just as you had modelled it? The first time on a train, at the beach, or seeing blossoms or snow. When they are small, we encourage conversation since we recognize that words are crucial for young children's learning.
The truth is that words are how we all learn. Ask someone for their opinion on something, and their understanding becomes clear through the jumble of thoughts they express. It is only by hearing the thoughts of others that we can determine if we share those thoughts. We use words to teach, and we use words to learn.
Reading aloud creates a multisensory experience. This enhances learning, as seeing the words with our eyes, vocalizing them with our mouths, and hearing our own words with our ears helps us solidify the meaning of the sounds, words, and phrases. Reading to another person can deepen our connection with that individual. How often have we, as adults, spoken a word aloud to aid our spelling or comprehension? How frequently have we reread a paragraph out loud to reinforce the context and glean the meaning between the words?
Yet, we often expect children to learn in silence, complete rote tasks, and refrain from asking questions, forgetting that this is how they learn, think, and make sense of the world.
I work with children who are hesitant to think out loud. They have learned to perceive this as childish or unnecessary. They tend to avoid reading aloud, sounding out words, and counting. I encourage them and model behaviours to show the power of their voice, illustrating how this simple act can create a multisensory learning experience. Often, when they hear it – the sound of a letter, the rhythm of numbers, the voice of a character – that's when they truly understand. The ‘aha!’ moments come thick and fast once the student can hear their own voice.
*2 https://literacytrust.org.uk/reading-for-pleasure/
