Promoting Sophisticated Word Use in the Elementary Music Classroom

Abstract

Because acquisition of vocabulary has been shown to affect reading comprehension and verbal capacity, one initiative that has gained momentum in elementary schools is the promotion of sophisticated words across grade levels. Music teachers, like other educators, should provide a vocabulary-rich environment to encourage the use of academic language by all students. This article presents reasons for increasing children’s lexicons in any instructional setting and then offers strategies for inspiring word consciousness and integrating academic terms during instruction so that they become part of students’ quotidian language. Sample lists of terms are included.