Homeschooling

Posts Tagged ‘homeschool language programs’

Question: I'm thinking about starting a word/definition program?

Since I homeschool my children, I thought about a new language arts program that I could start. Here's the idea:

Each week, I come up with a word that's somewhat common (I used 'sleepy' for the first word)

Then, I find ten words that are related to the common word, but vary by degree. (For example, the word 'sleepy' could be more defined by using comatose, drowsy, hypnotic, lethargic, listless, sluggish, slumberous, somnolent, soporific, and torpid) To prevent an inaccuracy, I'll give out the definition that would be on the test.

At the end of the week, I give a test on the words. I'm not sure if I want them to define each word or place them in varying levels of degree.

Here's another example:
Common word: rain (verb)
Related words: bucket, drizzle, fall, hail, mist, pour, shower, sleet, sprinkle, storm

Any ideas about this program? I'm open for suggestions.

Answer: That is a good idea but why not just start using the words more regularly yourself? Seriously, look at the amazing amount of vocabularly that a child of 2-3 knows, how did they learn it? Did you give them a word list and ask for a test at weeks end? KWIM? They learned those words by hearing them spoken. Of course, on some of the words they'll ask, "What does that mean?" which is great because it is healthy and shows a desire to know. It may take a couple of times for them to 'get it', but thats okay. IMO, the best way to help increase a childs vocabularly is to hear those words regularly. Use the related words as much as the common words are used and soon the related words will be common.

I honestly do not believe that word lists or testing are needed,but that is just my opinion.

The Madsen Method, English for Life. "Sounds of the English Phonograms" part 2