5 Informal Vocabulary Assessment Methods for Children with Language Delays

As a professional tasked with assisting children with language delays, accurately assessing their vocabulary skills is crucial. Performing an effective vocabulary assessment can help identify the child’s strengths and areas where they need help. In this article, we will discuss the top five informal vocabulary assessment methods for children with language delays and provide relevant examples.

1. Vocabulary Checklist

A vocabulary checklist contains a list of words categorized according to their difficulty level. You can use this method by letting the child mark which words they know and which they are unfamiliar with. This approach is effective because it helps to identify words that the child struggles with, giving you a better understanding of their vocabulary skills.

For example, you might use a vocabulary checklist that includes words such as “car,” “ball,” “cat,” “dog,” and “teacher” for younger children and words such as “astute,” “pensive,” “diverse,” and “profound” for older children.

2. Picture Naming Task

The picture naming task is a common informal assessment method, which involves displaying pictures and asking the child to name them. This technique helps to identify the child’s receptive and expressive vocabularies.

For example, you might show a picture of a “cat” or “dog” and ask the child to point and say the name of the animals shown in the picture.

3. Sentence Completion Task

The sentence completion task involves presenting the child with a sentence and asking them to fill in the blank with the appropriate word. This assessment method helps to evaluate the child’s ability to understand context and use appropriate vocabulary words.

For example, you might say, “The ___________ is cold,” and the child could fill in the blank with “ice cream” or “water.”

4. Vocabulary Quizzes

Administering a vocabulary quiz that includes words taught in previous sessions is a useful assessment method. This technique provides an opportunity to evaluate the child’s retention of the vocabulary learned over time.

For example, you might ask the child to match words with the correct definition or provide the definition of a word.

5. Descriptive Vocabulary Task

Children with language delays may struggle with expressing themselves using descriptive language. This assessment method involves asking the child to describe an object using as many descriptive words as possible.

For example, you might present the child with a picture of a tree and ask them to describe it through the use of adjectives like tall, green and leafy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, assessing vocabulary skills is an important aspect of working with children with language delays. Utilizing these five informal assessment methods can help identify the child’s strengths and areas where they need help. By understanding the child’s vocabulary skills, teachers, speech therapists, and parents can develop a plan that addresses the child’s specific needs and helps to improve their vocabulary skills.