Middle School Vocabulary

[ncmom2dawters]

My children will be 7th / 8th grades next school year. I'm trying to decide if we really need a separate vocab program. This year we used Vocabulit. I liked and saw some value in using it. However, it felt like it was one more subject to fit in. We've also used a few vocab. resources, i.e. EFTRU, over the last few years but those tend to get dropped when we are pressed for time. I'm thinking of using Progeny or other lit. guides and just using the vocab. work in those instead of a specific vocab. resource. My concern ...will that be enough?

[Trish]

My children will be 7th / 8th grades next school year. I'm trying to decide if we really need a separate vocab program. This year we used Vocabulit. I liked and saw some value in using it. However, it felt like it was one more subject to fit in. We've also used a few vocab. resources, i.e. EFTRU, over the last few years but those tend to get dropped when we are pressed for time. I'm thinking of using Progeny or other lit. guides and just using the vocab. work in those instead of a specific vocab. resource. My concern ...will that be enough?

 

 

That will give you words based on the literature you're using. Those aren't necessarily the most commonly used ones now, or the ones that will appear on the SAT if you're concerned about testing.

 

We use Sadlier (levels A,B, & C in middle school). It doesn't take much time and it works for us. The kids' school before we pulled them out for homeschooling was only doing a small amount of vocab work based on whatever they happened to be reading at the time. We felt that was insufficient.

[regentrude]

We are not, and have never been, using a vocabulary program. I do not consider it necessary.

Vocabulary can be built just fine from reading a wide variety of quality literature in various genres, and impressive results on standardized tests can be achieved this way.

[AimeeM]

Agreeing with Regentrude, if your child is getting quality literature (and, I'll add, they are familiar with stems/roots/etc), they probably do not need a formal lit program.

However, if (like my daughter) your child isn't one to dive into quality literature willingly or often (in our case, she reads what is required of school, so far as "quality", otherwise preferring fluff - decent fluff, but still fluff, lol), I would add a vocab program. I'm worried, with the questions she asks, that she won't be prepped for the ACT or SAT otherwise. My daughter doesn't retain much from the assigned literature because she hates it :p

 

We plan to use Caesar's English and/or Marie's Words.

[redsquirrel]

We use Vocabulary From Classical Roots. We went through books A&B this year, and plan to complete C&D next year.

 

My son does read 'quality literature' on a regular basis and has a great vocabulary, but I still think it is a valid area of study. What I discovered is that while he has seen many words in his reading he only has a 'sort of' idea of what they mean. The vocabulary study has challenged him to actually learn the definitions.

 

Now, before you ask, yes, I have told him to ask/look up/etc any word he sees that he doesn't know. He has seen his father and me do it many times in our own reading. But, the trouble is that he often thinks he does know and doesn't feel the need to confirm. Or, his understanding is quite vague, based more on connotation.

[Jenn121]

We use Wordlywise. we have for the last 3 years. DD is going in to 7th. She asks for it. She enjoys learning new words. The lessons are simple and do not take much time. She is in Book 7 this year.