Teaching Keyword Identification from an Early Age

What is a Keyword?Ask your child what he thinks a KEYWORD is? He will probably hone in on the word KEY and say that it unlocks something. Of course! A KEYWORD unlocks your UNDERSTANDING. Why do we Read?Do we read to merely sound out words? Or do we read to UNDERSTAND and get immersed into wonderful stories of faraway lands and magical worlds? It is so sad how many children are so focused on sounding out words that they forget that there is an incredible meaning behind those string of letters. Keyword identification is difficult and a skill that is very foreign to every child. It needs to be taught and practiced A LOT! Are Highlighters Good or Bad?Many of the children that I have taught gasp in horror when I mention the word HIGHLIGHTER.’Ha! You can’t say that word. It is a swear word.’Initially I wondered why there was so much drama and emotion attached to an act that I viewed as perfectly healthy and essential in class. As I studied the kids and their inability to identify keywords, I realised why highlighting was a curse to most educators. Most of the kids were HIGHLIGHTING EVERY SINGLE WORD including the very non-critical word ‘a’. Their textbooks looked like a pink or blue mass of colour. This overload of colour only UNLOCKED confusion and panic, for all involved.   How can I Teach my Child to Identify Keywords?There are 7 question words that can help your child figure out what words are KEY or CRITICAL in a sentence. 7 Question Words to Help Identify KeywordsWhat: identifies information ABOUT somethingWhen: identifies information about TIMEWhere: identifies information about a PLACE or a POSITIONWhich: identifies information about a CHOICEWho: identifies information about a PERSON or PEOPLEHow: identifies information about a MANNER in which something is doneA more in depth study on the 7 QUESTION words can be found in the following article: Question Words – English Study.