Vocabulary and the new SAT?

[MamaSprout]

I'm asking here because this is a logic stage question with high school repercussions.

 

Conventional wisdom is that students move on to vocabulary after spelling, largely to prepare for the SAT. I heard the new SAT has dropped a lot of the obscure vocabulary questions. Is that true? Does it still make sense to do the full Vocabulary from Classical Roots series (or a similar one?)

 

My DC is coming to the end of spelling (she's in Spelling Workout G, which she detests. She kept "losing it" until I told her she'd need to buy a new one.)

 

At this point she's not learning to spell, and I don't think she's retaining the vocabulary. We'll finish this year with the spelling section I have in the back of the Warriner's I have on the shelf. At least she'll get the commonly misspelled ones down.

 

She has a great vocabulary and we went through MCT 100 most used literature words last year.

 

WWYD for vocabulary?

[DebbS]

We did classical history and literature but didn't do vocabulary as a standalone subject at all past the elementary school level. With extensive reading from various time periods my kids expanded their vocabulary naturally. Both got 800s on the critical reasoning section of the old SAT so I guess that approach worked. I have heard that the new SAT is no longer including archaic vocabulary but is instead focusing on words that people use today. You might want your daughter take a new SAT practice test  provided in a study book and see where she stands. Then you can determine what sort of vocabulary course might be helpful or whether you even need to do that.

[Arcadia]

March is the first new SAT. So my opinion is based purely on the four samples/practice tests for the new SAT.

 

My oldest tried the sample/practice tests for both old and new SAT. The vocabulary for the old SAT is uncommon in daily usage or fiction. The vocabulary for the new SAT is more common. He guess (ETA: educated guessing not random) his way for the old SAT practice and did not need to guess for the new SAT.

 

My youngest totally bomb the old SAT practice. He is my kid that don't read fiction unless assigned and does not bother with word roots. He does a lot better on the new SAT practice. For this kid the Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Workshop series help a lot for test prep and for learning vocabulary that is found in fiction.

 

Since your daughter has a great vocabulary, I would let her try any of the practice tests for the new SAT before spending money on vocabulary curriculum.

 

Link to the four practice tests for the new SAT

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests

Edited February 14, 2016 by Arcadia

[regentrude]

Even with the old SAT, I did not consider a vocabulary program necessary and never did one with my kids.

A much better way of developing a rich vocabulary is reading lots of good books of various periods and genres and participating in conversations with adults who possess an extensive vocabulary.

 

Seeing that the new SAT has dumbed down the vocab section, I see even less of a need.

[quark]

We have VfCR workbooks B, C and D laying around but we don't have a set schedule to use them. Actually, he hasn't touched them in a while. We didn't buy them as curriculum but as a free time fun word root study. 

 

As PPs have said, the only regular vocab practice he has had is from reading widely, choosing good books, at more and more challenging levels. A little Scrabble now and then. And talking about words and their roots in daily conversations when those words come up. We enjoy words so we try to think of how their usage could have developed. I printed a word list out for him one time a few years ago to help him with his writing and to help him choose better words to express himself (because he kept getting stuck and the list helped jump start his thoughts). The word list is usually stuck in a binder though so I don't think that was real vocab prep for him either or maybe, it contributed a little. Reading was definitely key.
 

[SparklyUnicorn]

No clue if it is any good for the SAT in particular, but we really enjoyed MCT's vocabulary books.  We especially loved Caesar's English.  It's great for reading old(er) books. 

[Arcadia]

No clue if it is any good for the SAT in particular, but we really enjoyed MCT's vocabulary books. We especially loved Caesar's English. It's great for reading old(er) books.

We find MCT more useful for literature (SAT or AP) rather than the new SAT. My oldest read through CE and WWtW for leisure. It makes reading Shakespeare easier for him.

[VANURSEPRAC]

My reluctant English/writer girl is working through Wordly Wise 3000 and is on grade level. She used to love reading in elementary school but now as a 7th grader to get her to read is like pulling teeth.

 

 

[MamaSprout]

No clue if it is any good for the SAT in particular, but we really enjoyed MCT's vocabulary books. We especially loved Caesar's English. It's great for reading old(er) books.

I bought and sold Caesar's English- not sure what didn't click. Going through his 100 Words list with 4 square sheets was useful for higher level literature.

 

We have the Rummy Roots game, maybe I should pull those back out.

Edited February 14, 2016 by elladarcy

[madteaparty]

I bought and sold Caesar's English- not sure what didn't click. Going through his 100 Words list with 4 square sheets was useful for higher level literature.

 

We have the Rummy Roots game, maybe I should pull those back out.

I got rid of all my MCT (except CE but that's also collecting dust) so you are not alone. French is helping us a little with roots, I think (maybe deluding myself?)

We are also going through Sadlier but cannot attest to results yet.