Understanding and Implementing the Common Core Vocabulary Standards in Kindergarten

The purpose of this article is to address common concerns educators might have regarding the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for language arts and vocabulary in the early grades. We first provide an example of a kindergarten teacher struggling to teach vocabulary following the CCSS. Next we attempt to answer some of the common questions related to the implementation of the CCSS. We then provide examples of research-based activities that include rich language interactions designed to build the vocabulary knowledge of kindergarteners. We conclude with suggestions on how Mr. Martinez, a kindergarten teacher, can effectively implement these activities in the classroom to address the requirements of the CCSS.