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 Literacy Milestones

    Birth to 5 years

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A Core Vocabulary

A CORE VOCABULARY FROM CHILDREN'S WRITING
Words most frequently written by Adelaide children
in
 years 3 ‑7

1-50      

the  

on 

there 

go

and  

went

up       

as

I      

had   

she    

her

a     

is    

me    

saw

to    

then

out    

came

was  

for  

got     

him

it     

said  

with   

back

we   

whe

at     

after

in     

so   

you   

are

of    

that   

all     

about

he    

but   

his     

very

my   

one 

day

have

they 

were  

 

 

Words 1-50 account for 49%  of all words written

51‑100

down    

what  

their    

Mum

be        

house

around 

next

home   

this     

 if          

put

like      

time    

who      

us

some    

will      

found   

did

them    

going   

night  

come

would   

off       

see     

now

not       

could   

little    

door

because

two 

people

just

into    

took

do

Christmas

get     

over

started

told

from   

an

man

 

our     

by 

ran

 

Words 51-100 account for 10%  of all words written

 

101- 200

Dad     

good    

bed     

through

where  

morning

dog      

left

am      

way      

made    

three

old      

been      

first      

don't

big       

car        

has      

white

looked 

didn't     

too     

Mother

no       

away      

know    

nice

which   

heard      

suddenly  

well

school  

called      

only   

find

can       

name      

Mr.      

take

or         

other      

your   

end

asked  

again       

water   

Father

look     

yes          

play   

something

before  

gave        

still  

walking

once    

lived        

years

why

place   

men        

tree 

cat

thought

boy          

how  

girl

long      

walked     

later 

never

more   

plane         

children  

looking

police  

friend    

happy  

lunch

boat    

until          

another       

turned

soon    

lot            

last             

help

fell           

white      

cave     

sleep

inside       

room     

friends  

small

things       

every      

Mrs.     

black

 

201-300

 

 

 

much        

right       

most    

island

stopped   

set           

red       

ran

decided     

finished    

world    

oh

five           

hour        

boys     

ate

here        

knew       

caught

behind

few          

o'clock    

dead     

breakfast

money         

every 

earth

brother

always      

coming     

live 

flying

horse       

I'm            

lost  

front

year        

make      

new  

hot

days         

story       

opened 

like

family       

under       

ten  

same

really        

wanted    

window 

give

also          

any         

woke   

love

great       

food        

half 

birthday

it's            

outside   

minutes  

eat

think        

thing       

everyone

hours

tried         

many     

jumped    

Mars

want     

tea        

stay      

mouse

couldn't  

ground   

baby   

reached

dark       

John      

lady         

road

head      

sat        

lots         

eyes

walk      

work     

pageant    

kept

fire         

best      

played    

both

four       

life         

beach   

green

 Words 201‑300 account for 4% of all words written.


This list was created in Adelaide as part of a research project by staff at Salisbury Teachers College (now Adelaide University) around 1972, but the vocabulary is still relevant today.