During the 2025-26 school year, our Tiger Cub Preschool focused on helping students build stronger language and vocabulary skills through weekly “WOW Words.”
As part of the preschool’s participation in the Quality Assurance Review (QAR) process, teachers intentionally introduced new and advanced vocabulary words during lessons and everyday classroom conversations. The words were connected to areas of study and real-life situations to help students better understand and use them in meaningful ways.
The idea began after a teacher used the word “injury” instead of “boo boo” while comforting a student. The student became curious about the new word, and the class quickly became interested in learning more “big kid words.”
Throughout the year, students learned and used words like “exhausted,” “absent,” and “enormous.” Teachers helped students discover meanings through discussion, context clues, and classroom interaction.
The WOW Words initiative also extended into students’ homes. Families received the words through newsletters and were encouraged to practice them together. Parents and grandparents shared stories of students using the new vocabulary in everyday conversations at home.
Four preschool classrooms at Tiger Cub Preschool are funded through the Missouri Quality Pre-Kindergarten Grant (MOQPK), a state-funded program designed to increase access to high-quality preschool education for four-year-old children, particularly those from low-income families, through public schools and licensed child care providers.
According to Danielle with QAR, the project supports important instructional goals connected to classroom interaction and student learning.
“The QAR project utilizes CLASS® (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) as a tool because strong interactions, especially within Instructional Support, are key to deep learning,” Danielle shared. “The ‘WOW Words’ that St. James Tiger Cub Preschool focused on this year helped support this component by intentionally expanding children's vocabulary and strengthening meaningful conversations that build comprehension, thinking skills, and a strong foundation for future academic success.”
The WOW Words initiative reflects St. James R-1 School District’s mission of empowering students through caring relationships, academic excellence, and community partnerships by creating engaging learning experiences that connect the classroom and home while helping students build confidence and communication skills at an early age.
The video below features Tiger Cub Preschool students sharing some of their favorite WOW Words from this school year: