How to Build up A Repertoire of Words
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It’s easier to write when you have the tools to work with and one tool which goes a long way is vocabulary. Today’s post is all about How to Build up A Repertoire of Words.
Ideas on How to Play with Words
Enjoying and playing around with words is a great way to build up a repertoire of new words. Sure, you can focus on vocabulary and word exercises and programs, but an authentic approach helps you to hold on to the new words better.
- How to Make a Word Collage {& Why}– A post from earlier this school year on how to use a thesaurus and art supplies to reflect on a word and all its uses and meanings. It’s one of our favorites and my word kids love this activity.
- Five Ways to Play with Words– A post I did for Bright Ideas Press in the fall on all sorts of ways to get to know words.
- Rory’s Story Cubes– Fun way to create story and practice words with friends or alone. This one is my recent review over at The Curriculum Choice.
- Writing with Word Cards– Give word cards kids have to use in their writing. They can be ordinary or not, but always try to give a new word.
- The Dictionary Quest– The perfect activity to make friends with a printed dictionary. Use the dictionary to explore a word and the words around it. Those of us growing our vocabularies before the internet, have the advantage of wandering through print dictionaries and stumbling across all sorts of words surrounding the target word. Use this activity to investigate new words. At random!
Reading Builds Vocabulary
The more kids are exposed to words in a variety of contexts, the more they get to know new words. Be sure to get your kids reading- whether they like the process or not! Madeline L’Engle said it well when she talked about how we need many words to make sure our thoughts can stay big (that’s the Heather Woodie paraphrase).
The more limited our language is, the more limited we are; the more limited the literature we give to our children, the more limited their capacity to respond, and therefore, in their turn, to create. The more our vocabulary is controlled, the less we will be able to think for ourselves. We do think in words, and the fewer words we know, the more restricted our thoughts. As our vocabulary expands, so does our power to think. – Madeline L’Engle
If you need ideas for how to getting ready to be a regular part of your home, here are a few I’ve compiled.
- Establishing a Reading Culture in Your Home– This ultimate post lists many ideas, tips, and resources for creating a reading culture in your home from babies to high schoolers.
- Summer Reading Challenge (without the Carrot & Stick)– This popular post is all about skipping the rewards and getting to the heart of a reading challenge whether or not your kids like to read!
- Organizing Your Home Library– A home library with access to many different kinds of books is essential to raising readers. This post has ideas on how to organize all those books once you have them in your home.
Coaching Writing Helps to Build a Word Repertoire
One of my favorite things to do as a homeschool mom is to banter with my kids over their writing. From the youngest to the oldest, it is always an engaging time to see what their vision is and to hear them tell about their writing choices. Often, we’ll talk about using strong words to replace weak choices so they can convey a thought more precisely.
- Resources for Coaching Writers– Do you need some help finding things that will help you to work with your students? This post is full of books, websites, and general information on working with student writing.
- Coaching Writing Pinterest Board– This board has all sorts of ideas on how to work directly with student writers. Mostly for middle and high school students, you’ll find many resources here.
- Ultimate Guide to Coaching Writers in Your Homeschool– A round up of resources and posts pertaining to writing.
- Essay Rockstar– Do you find that you have trouble being a mentor to your student’s writing? Essay Rockstar could be the tool you are looking for to have occasional or routine outsourced help with writing.
Whatever you choose to do to enhance your use of words, make it fun. Try out new activities and think about words. Use them. Try them out. Surprise people with them. Make words enjoyable. Play with meanings. Challenge yourself to find precise words. See how your use of language changes and see how your writing changes. Join your kids with word challenges. See what happens!
Our family loves to play with words. I think knowing lots of words helps so much in creating good writers because you have so many words in your writing tool belt. Great post Heather.
Agreed- thanks Barb!
I really like that quote by Madeline L’ Engle. I think reading is an enjoyable and painless way to increase one’s vocabulary.
Thanks Elisabeth! I know reading has been much more valuable a resource than the way I learned vocabulary in school. It makes words more fun that is for sure!