Today's Reading Tip: Use Proper Reading/Writing Terminology

I never understand why some teachers and parents use simpler words for academic language.  Some examples I can think of are:

• Big and little letters for upper and lowercase
• Excited mark for exclamation point
• Writer for author
• Artist for illustrator

I truly feel that children can grasp the concept of academic language if they are exposed to it at a very young age.  The use of simpler words (such as big and little letters) in place of an academic term (upper and lowercase) must be very confusing, when in a higher grade level they are expected to know the proper terms!
My advice-don't dumb it down.  Use the proper term from the onset, and your student or child will learn what it means through example and repeat exposure.