Upper School Blog: Spoken Language and Vocabulary Acquisition

Studies have shown that London cab drivers develop more gray matter in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for spatial memory, compared to average citizens—especially those who rely on GPS directions to navigate.* Like early humans, who needed to find food, water, and their way back to the community, we are biologically driven to orient ourselves to our surroundings. For the child working to understand her environment and feel secure within it, vocabulary development is essential in this process. 

With the same beauty and precision as poets and scientists, we can narrate the world for children, who relish the things we bring to life and the independence this knowledge affords them. In the Montessori environment, children are given many chances to speak and to be heard through conversation. At home, you can continue this practice by asking lots of questions and encouraging children to provide detailed responses. 

When learned in connection with life experiences, children can mentally organize and readily retrieve new vocabulary in order to retain and use it. By speaking, singing, and stating the specific names of objects--from instruments to insects--we empower children to communicate verbally as well as in writing. We cannot write a word we do not know. We cannot engage in the writing process, which asks us to first think of, then express and refine our ideas, without practice. In reading, strong vocabularies grant children access to many more texts. 

Though other animals can make intricate sounds and even understand some of our words, their comprehension is limited. They cannot visualize ideas or imagine alternative timelines. Only human languages transport listeners to the abstract realm. Because it is impossible to live in a community without communication, language allows us to create the social relationships that give meaning to our lives and grant us the best chances for survival. Words offer the power to ask questions and express needs. Language, says Maria Montessori in The Absorbent Mind, “is an instrument of collective thought.” With the right words, our children have the ability to persuade others, inspire others, teach others, and learn from others. 

Please know that you are always welcome to reach out if you would like to discuss this topic with me.

Emily Navarro

Literacy Specialist

*O’Connor, M.R. “Ditch the GPS. It’s ruining your brain.” Washington Post, 5 June 2019.