how do you know if your child needs a vocabulary program?

[caedmyn]

I'm trying to decide if my rising 6th grader should do a vocabulary program next year.  I lean toward minimalism in homeschooling, meaning if it's not really necessary, we don't do it, because I have two dyslexic/ADHD kids and another one who's just dyslexic, and only so much time and energy.  I sometimes feel like she's not picking up the meaning of words as much as she should from context in reading, but I pulled up a list of 5th grade vocabulary words and quizzed her on 20-25 of them and she knew what most of them meant, so maybe she is picking up the meanings fine and my expectations are too high.  She has been working through Megawords 3 this year and doesn't know the meaning of...I'd guess a third...of the words.  Not sure what grade level vocabulary Megawords 3 would correlate with.  If we did use a vocabulary program, I think we'd use Vocabulary from Classical Roots.  (She has good reading comprehension, so it's not an issue of whether she understands what she reads, just of whether figuring out the meaning of words based on context is a comprehensive-enough approach for her.)

[kbutton]

I have gone round and round with this concern myself. My kids both test as having really high vocabularies. One can pick up word meanings very well from context. The other is getting there, but it doesn't come as naturally. Both have language issues (one is on the spectrum and one has a very sketchy and inconsistent language issue due to CAPD).

 

I personally think that being able to learn words in context is the single most helpful skill, but sometimes (especially in later years), you have to be able to be precise about word meanings as well. That happens a lot with subject-specific terminology. I think that if you want really good vocabulary development from reading, you also have to be pretty intentional about what literature you read (or listen to), and that is already it's own challenge for kids with LDs.

 

I think I am going to spring for a literature program that has a lot of vocabulary development to give them exposure to more words in context while also being able to hold them accountable for learning the words. (Mosdos Press) I am also going to do a little with Latin and Greek-based vocabulary (some stuff from Michael Clay Thompson's early levels). My older son needs the accountability of studying for a test, and vocabulary is a non-threatening way to introduce study skills for him.

 

I think we are also going to start beginning Latin (my kiddos will be in grades 4 and 8 next year). My younger one is very into classical studies sorts of things, and my older one is going to need a foreign language in high school. Since I am not fluent in anything, I would like to use Latin. 

 

I also plan to have word lists from other subjects to hold them accountable for terminology (science, history, etc.). 

 

[73349]

My friend who is a reading and vocabulary teacher has kids keep a Context Vocabulary Notebook.

 

Start with a blank notebook. Designate a page for each letter (maybe two pages for more frequent letters like S).

 

As you read, make a note of unfamiliar words. Copy the sentence (or just a phrase if that makes it clear) into your notebook on the right page, underlining the new word & making note of the source (title & page).

 

Make a guess about what the word likely means. Then look it up in the dictionary. Copy a short dictionary definition.

 

Periodically, go back through your notebook and review the words.

 

 

I haven't done this with DS yet; my friend did it for middle grades kids. We're doing roots this year, and vocab is one of DS's stronger sections on standardized tests.

Edited May 14, 2017 by whitehawk

[PeterPan]

Around here the really good OG tutoring place will run the CTOPP plus the DAR for just $75. The DAR Diagnostic Assessments of Readingâ„¢ (DARâ„¢), Second Edition would give you the info you're wanting. 

[LauraBeth475]

I use Let's Go Learn's DORA assessment to see how much extra work my kids need on vocabulary, phonics, comprehension, etc.

[Carol in Cal.]

Are you having her study Latin?  That helps a ton, and I don't know that I'd add specific vocab if you're doing that--I might beef up your discussions of word meanings in context a bit though.

 

If not, you might consider 'Vocabulary Vine' followed by 'Science Roots'.  What I like about those is that they teach Greek as well as Latin roots, and kids learn to infer word meanings from the root words in them.  They are also pretty reasonably priced.  For a minimalist homeschool, I think that this program is pretty good.  FYI Science Roots is geared toward the roots used in biological names, so it's a good one to study in middle school before taking bio in high school.

 

 

[kbutton]

If not, you might consider 'Vocabulary Vine' followed by 'Science Roots'.  What I like about those is that they teach Greek as well as Latin roots, and kids learn to infer word meanings from the root words in them.  They are also pretty reasonably priced.  For a minimalist homeschool, I think that this program is pretty good.  FYI Science Roots is geared toward the roots used in biological names, so it's a good one to study in middle school before taking bio in high school.

 

Did you have trouble getting your kids to do the games to learn the roots?

[katilac]

We really loved Caesar's English 1 & 2 from Michael Clay Thompson. It uses excerpts from classical works to put the words in context, and really pins down a more nuanced meaning (as opposed to the more general meaning often obtained just from reading them in context). 

 

Now, imo, it does require reading together and discussion to be most effective and engaging, but it was a fun part of our day that required little writing. You can also do it with multiple kids - your others are a bit young, but they might surprise you with what they remember. You could have only oldest do the writing and quizzes, if you wanted. 

 

I think they are both available as iBooks now, which is not my preference but might work well if you are often in the car or waiting situations.

 

My other dd did use Vocabulary from Classical Roots, and it's a fine program but much drier, and also possibly tough for a 6th-grader. 

[caedmyn]

No Latin, but she's been doing English From the Roots Up. I think I'm leaning towards doing Vocabulary Cartoons now.

[LauraBeth475]

We really loved Caesar's English 1 & 2 from Michael Clay Thompson. It uses excerpts from classical works to put the words in context, and really pins down a more nuanced meaning (as opposed to the more general meaning often obtained just from reading them in context).

 

Now, imo, it does require reading together and discussion to be most effective and engaging, but it was a fun part of our day that required little writing. You can also do it with multiple kids - your others are a bit young, but they might surprise you with what they remember. You could have only oldest do the writing and quizzes, if you wanted.

 

I think they are both available as iBooks now, which is not my preference but might work well if you are often in the car or waiting situations.

 

My other dd did use Vocabulary from Classical Roots, and it's a fine program but much drier, and also possibly tough for a 6th-grader.

What age would you use Caesar's English with?

[G5052]

Mine did vocabulary after they finished spelling because their spelling began including vocabulary as it advanced, but we dropped it in high school. They had enough on their platters IMHO.

 

My oldest completed five years of Latin, and the younger four. Both did extremely well on that part of the the previous version of the SAT.

[Carol in Cal.]

Did you have trouble getting your kids to do the games to learn the roots?

 

We didn't use the games.  We talked about the roots and tried to find other words that used them.

I bought the science roots program but didn't use it--we switched to Latin at that point.

 

[katilac]

What age would you use Caesar's English with?

 

We used it in middle school, which I think is definitely later than intended. dd is a very strong student, but that's when we found it, and she enjoyed it and learned quite a bit. I honestly think almost any age could enjoy reading and discussing it! 

 

Word within a Word we did not like at all. 

 

We have the iPad version of The Vocabulary of Literature, which is a newer book I believe more in the style of Caesar's English than WwiaW, but honestly haven't tried it out yet. 

 

Both of my kids did some Latin through 10th- or 11th-grade. Oldest did some of the Vocabulary from Classical Roots, youngest did Caesar's English 1 & 2 and we plan on going through the new book as well. Roots was fine, just a standard workbook style, not something we loved. 

 

Both of mine are very good at learning words in context, but I also like to nail down the nuances and not just the general meaning. 

[lllll]

nm

Edited May 19, 2017 by _ -_-

[Saddlemomma]

Our DD did two years of Latin which helped a lot.  However, DD was always very good at pulling meanings of words from their context, so we didn't bother with a formal vocabulary program.

 

Just over the last year, DD has become a word collector.  When we read together, she'll stop me when we come to an unfamiliar word and write it down.  Then later she'll look it up.  If she's reading on her own, she'll highlight words and look them up. She's collected over 400 words this year.

 

Her newest thing is to (with permission) write the words on her bedroom walls with their definitions.  This is her "wallpaper".  We figure with all this going on, we don't need to worry about her and vocabulary.

[nixpix5]

Our DD did two years of Latin which helped a lot. However, DD was always very good at pulling meanings of words from their context, so we didn't bother with a formal vocabulary program.

 

Just over the last year, DD has become a word collector. When we read together, she'll stop me when we come to an unfamiliar word and write it down. Then later she'll look it up. If she's reading on her own, she'll highlight words and look them up. She's collected over 400 words this year.

 

Her newest thing is to (with permission) write the words on her bedroom walls with their definitions. This is her "wallpaper". We figure with all this going on, we don't need to worry about her and vocabulary.

 

Oh my goodness I love this do much!