Whether you’re an educator, therapist or a parent, everyone has the same end goal in mind for our little learners. That goal is to provide them with the best strategies, tips, tricks and materials with hopes of setting them up for success. There’s no shortage of materials, strategies, or curriculums built around teaching “core vocabulary”—and just as many opinions on the “right” way to do it. One popular method, the “word of the week” approach, often gets attention for its simplicity and structure. But while it may be convenient and catching, it’s actually constricting and not how language is learned. In fact, true vocabulary development happens through rich, repeated exposures to core vocabulary in natural contexts—not in isolation, and not one word at a time.
So, let’s explore when and how to teach core vocabulary in ways that are authentic, responsive, and will actually help learners build functional, and flexible language. From modeling multiple words in context to embedding language opportunities into everyday routines, let’s focus on what truly supports communication growth—and how to make it doable in daily practices. You’ll also be introduced to pre-created, done for you, no prep materials that can be easily printed and incorporated as additional supports to guide you in modeling language naturally, flexibly, and consistently.
First, let’s break down three key times when core word instruction really sticks.
1. During Unstructured Play
Play is one of the richest contexts for language learning— because it’s where motivation, interaction, and imagination naturally collide. Instead of scripting every moment, look for opportunities to model core words like go, stop, more, turn, and help during open-ended play. Pictured above are toy posters you may print and place in areas around your classroom or home. These posters provide visual prompts, but more importantly, they help you tune into what your learner is already doing, and use that to build language in the moment. You’re not just teaching about a word, you’re using it in a moment that matters, while modeling it in different contexts.
2. During Daily Routines, School Activities, and Book Time
Whether you’re asking your learners to wind down from recess, take a 10 minute brain break, or expecting them to grab a book, core vocabulary is embedded in each of these activities. This is where one can implement these core word cheat sheets. All of the thinking has been done for you! They take the guesswork out of language modeling and provide concrete learning and modeling. These sheets offer accessible suggestions for different ways learners can use the core word appropriately. These sheets can serve as conversation starters, provide play time pointers to spark conversation and help you weave core words naturally into what you’re already doing. No extra prep. No overthinking!
3. Drilled Repetition & Structured Practice
If your learner is working on understanding or practicing the use a specific word or set of words, giving them repeated opportunities in a fun, engaging and low-pressure way can help reinforce that desired learning and understanding. The key is to make these activities interactive and communicative, not just “worksheet time.” That’s where these core vocab craft sheets for a specific and targeted word can be incorporated. The repetition and structure should serve a purpose: helping a learner build confidence with words they can then use elsewhere both on and off the paper. These activities also provide structure, which is beneficial for your learner, as they will grow to learn expectations of skills.
So, now that we know when core vocab can be modeled, the next question would be, but how? These strategies will ensure that you can do so in an accessible, consistent, and connected way across all environments reaching all learners and adults involved.
1. Make Core Vocabulary Accessible to Everyone
You simply cannot model language if the language isn’t there. When core words are visibly displayed and shared, it becomes a natural part of the classroom environment. Having it accessible (as displayed above) also sends a powerful message: everyone deserves access to communication, all of the time. These core boards can be used in multiple ways to reach all learners. You can ensure that every child has access to their own individual core board, you can even send one home and of course, keep a large classroom core board nearby for consistent modeling and repetition.
2. Awareness: Know What Core Words Are
Sometimes the biggest struggle when modeling is simply not knowing what to say or being unable to recall core words. This provides confusion and can even trigger frustration, causing our learners to miss out. It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with core words so they become second nature to you. Pictured above is the parts of speech core word list. This cheat sheet is categorized by part of speech to help you get a feel for the types of words you can model—verbs, helping verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and more! This activity sheet can truly help you help learners vary their language, and support more flexible expression over time.
3. Involve Caregivers
The need for language does not stop at the classroom door and neither should reinforcing core vocabulary. Involving caregivers in the learning approach helps build consistency and gives students more opportunities to hear and use the same words across different environments. Share what you’re working on, provide simple examples of how they can model at home (during meals, playtime, routines), and reassure them: it’s not about perfection—it’s about presence and consistent practice.
When core vocabulary is visible, understood, and shared by educators, therapists, caregivers, and learners—it stops being a classroom goal and becomes part of how we connect everywhere. It doesn’t take a perfect system or hours of planning. Just the right tools, at the right times, used in meaningful, real-life moments, by people working together who deeply care about our learners.
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