The 5 Academic Words Every Child Should Know

A practical parent teaching guide designed to help children understand and use five important academic words that appear again and again across reading comprehension, maths, science, history and geography.

The guide focuses on five high-value words: predict, evidence, consequence, adapt and significant. For each word, I have included a simple parent script, examples, the kinds of questions children may hear in school and a quick check for understanding.

The guide also includes an Academic Vocabulary Check-Up, school-style questions, opportunities for children to explain and use each word themselves, and practical strategies for helping new vocabulary stick over time.

This resource is particularly useful for children who find the language of school difficult, including children who need more repetition, explicit teaching or support understanding academic vocabulary.

The aim is not simply for a child to memorise a definition. It is to help them understand the word, recognise it across different subjects and use it confidently for themselves.