Building a wider vocabulary, one word at a time

A child who knows more words reads more easily, writes more precisely and understands exam questions faster. Vocabulary is not a small thing.

Three tiers of words

Everyday words, subject words (evaporation, denominator) and rich literary words (reluctant, hesitant). School mostly teaches the middle tier; the rich tier comes from reading and conversation.

What actually works

• Read aloud above their level. Choose a book a year or two beyond what they read alone.
• Collect, don't test. Keep a running list of interesting words on the fridge, no definitions required.
• Use the word that afternoon. A word used once is remembered; a word copied three times is not.

Keep it warm

Never correct a child's word choice mid-sentence. Model a better word afterwards, and move on. Confidence grows vocabulary faster than correction.