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helping me increase my vocabulary
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Ok, I’m a little embarrassed. I’m 34 and sometimes have no idea what the words mean in my kids story books. I was a memorize for the test kind of student and forget about it afterwards. But now I really need to increase it so MY kids don’t experience this in their life. Any suggestions on how to increase it without feeling like I’m in high school or college again? I guess what I need to do is read the book before hand and look up words so I can explain it to them, but that seems so boring. I know I sound lazy 🙁 just looking for an easy fix.
Something that has really helped my vocabulary is to read on my Kindle. Having access to the dictionary immediately just by touching the word in question is so convenient!
I was going to suggest reading on a Kindle as well. It’s so easy to look-up words!
I read a paperback the other day and tried to click on an unfamiliar word…it took me awhile to figure out why it wasn’t working.
I subscribe to Merriam Webster’s word of the day. Every day I get an email with a word and its definition, origins, etc. and examples of the word used in sentences are provided. They also sometimes ask you to recall a word of the day from however many days or weeks previous to the current one. For me, it’s fun and keeps my vocabulary skills just a bit sharper.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/
One more thing: I always tell my children that one of the best subjects I studied in school was Latin. It helped me in science, and with vocabulary, grammar, and more. I use English From The Roots Up with them several mornings each week. This has a series of Greek and Latin root words, their meaning, and words in English that are rooted in these words. I think this is a great vocabulary-building exercise.
HTH!
What is wrong with just looking up the word? It shows your children that when you aren’t sure, you look it up. They see the dictionary as a resource and they learn how valuable it can be. They also see that you are never too old to learn and that we continue to learn everyday for the rest of our lives. IMO
Agreeing with CDM2KK. Also, IMO, the best way to increase your own vocabulary is to read great books. You will understand the meaning by the context; and if you ares still vague about it, then look it up and share what you’ve discovered with the rest of the family. That way they can also see how exciting words are to learn!
Language is fun!
I wanted you to know you are not alone and I’m 41! I have dictionary.com app on my iPhone and look up words daily! It helps. And I tell the girls, I don’t know what this word means, let’s look it up.
Good topic daybydaymama. I don’t think you have to read the book before hand. If you’re reading on a kindle, it doesn’t break the reading session at all to look up the word. I don’t have a kindle. I wanted to tell you about Kindle Cloud in case you do not know. I use Kindle cloud, which is free, it also has the dictionary. So if I am reading any of the books on the pc, I use either the buildt in dictionary, which I LOVE.
THe other thing I do is to open a tab with an online dictionary on my pc, and it’s ready to quickly look it up. I just have it next to me on the couch or coffee table.
My children do get a little irritated when I stop reading aloud to look up words, but I just cannot help it. I have found it really helps us understand what we are reading. I think they realise that too. The other day, we were reading a little book called “My Egyptian Cousin” and we hit a word ‘dragoman’ which I proceeded to look up. (it’s an interpreter or guide) My bouncy daughter, 10 yo, was impatient and said, “Let’s just skip it.” My son explained to her that we would lose some meaning in the story if we just skipped it, and asked if she perhaps knew the meaning
She was rather thoughtful. The next day I found that she came and asked me the meaning of two words in her private reading. So I think we all learned that the time to look up something really pays.I find that my son, who hated looking up words on the pc dictionary (but had to) is now looking up words when he reads, albeit occasionally. He has got the skill of looking up and alphebitizing, guide words etc now, so I think it is fine for him to use the pc.
Now, my next plan is to teach them the Greek and Latin roots, as someone mentioned.
HTH and encourages you.
Lindy
South Africa
She was rather thoughtful. The next day I found that she came and asked me the meaning of two words in her private reading. So I think we all learned that the time to look up something really pays.Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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