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Vocabulary

Growing the words they know and use — 21 skills across 9 years. Every skill below shows what it builds on and how to tell your child has it.

English21 skillsages 5–14

Grouped by the age children typically start each skill. Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace.

Around age 5

Discussing and Questioning New Wordsages 5–11AC ✓ Shades of Meaningages 5–9AC ✓ Sorting & Categorising Wordsages 5–8AC ✓ Using New Vocabularyages 5–9AC ✓ Word Parts as Cluesages 5–8AC ✓

Around age 6

Defining Wordsages 6–9AC ✓ Root Words & Inflectionsages 6–9AC ✓

Around age 7

Formal and Informal Englishages 7–10AC ✓ Word Families and Root Wordsages 7–9AC ✓

Around age 8

Literal vs Figurative Languageages 8–9AC ✓

Around age 9

Antonyms & Synonymsages 9–11AC ✓ Domain Vocabulary Across Subject Areasages 9–11AC ✓ Greek and Latin Roots for Word Meaningages 9–11AC ✓ Idioms & Proverbsages 9–11 Similes & Metaphorsages 9–11AC ✓

Around age 10

Choosing Formal Vocabularyages 10–11AC ✓ Dialects & Registersages 10–11AC ✓ Using a Thesaurus to Choose Wordsages 10–11AC ✓

Around age 11

Academic Vocabularyages 11–14AC ✓ Advanced Figurative Languageages 11–14AC ✓ Vocabulary Strategiesages 11–14AC ✓

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