Low Cost Vocabulary

I thought I'd explain a little bit about how I do vocabulary. But first a few things about me:

• I like FREE or low cost lessons.
• I'm not very good at planning ahead.
• I'm a spontaneous and impromptu teacher.

So from 10:30AM to 11:00AM almost every weekday morning I read to my children while they draw. I switch it up from short stories, to novels, to poetry, to fables, to nursery rhymes, to whatever I feel like reading. I like to stick to the classics and other good literature. I allow the children to put in their vote, but it's difficult to get six voting children to agree on anything, so I usually exercise my executive authority and pick the book. I have absolutely no method in choosing what I read. When we go to the library I am guilty of judging books by their covers, so I pick several books that I think look interesting and go from there. During our last library trip I picked up this book (among many others.) I didn't necessarily like the cover of this book, but I was drawn to the author and subject.

Favorite Medieval Tales by Mary Pope Osborne

My children love the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne and we've been studying Medieval History so I thought it was a good fit. And it was.

During the last five minutes of reading time I go over the story or chapter and pick some words that I think might be new for my children and write them on blank index cards. While I write them down, I call on a child individually and ask them if they know what "such and such" word means, and I'll read it in context of the sentence. I try to start with the younger ones to give them a chance. If they don't know it or can't figure it out, I ask my older ones. My sixth grade daughter can usually define whatever word I ask. She has a gift in defining words. She should write a dictionary someday.

I can usually find at least 10 words to consider vocabulary words. On this day we read a Robin Hood story and these are the words we defined. I admit that ermine, palfrey, knave, and troth are not part of my everyday vocabulary and I needed a little review too.

This is my fifth grade son looking up words he didn't know.

He used Google to define them because our main dictionary was buried under a pile of books. However, we probably would've used the computer even if the dictionary was accesible because, let's face it, it's quicker. 

Then I stick them in this little pocket I made, that hangs on our bulletin board. I will pull them out at a later time to review and quiz them. 

So that is how we do vocabulary for now. Like I said, I'm a spontaneous person so my method might change next month. But at the moment I don't purchase any formal curriculum for vocabulary during these early years. I'm sure I'll purchase something once my daughter starts getting more involved in preparing for the SAT. 

Wait a minute....I just remembered that I did buy this app. I bought Knowji Vocab 5 and 6 for my fifth and sixth graders and they do this app every now and then. I don't keep track of the words they are learning or anything. It's just kind of, "Hey go use technology to play and learn" sort of thing. They are happy they get to play on my iTouch, and I'm happy they are quiet and out of my hair for a moment, and it's only $2.99 per level. :)

You can buy the other levels on iTunes. There are levels 3-10, PSAT, and SAT:

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