Let’s discuss tips about how to improve vocabulary! Here are some ways I do this in my own home:

1- Read aloud books above their current reading level.
This has been a HUGE gap filler for my family. They read at (or below) their own comprehension level and I read a step or two above. So while they are reading Billie B. Brown to me, I am reading The Chronicles of Narnia to them. The Chronicles of Narnia has WAY more words and much more advanced words than Billie B. Brown. BUT- They can still comprehend what I’m saying to them because we learn by listening much faster than reading to ourselves. So pick books YOU want to read and read them out loud to your kids- especially when it’s books they can’t yet read on their own. They’ll gain a larger vocab rather quickly.
A fun read aloud we tried together was a book called “Frindle”. Have you read this to you kids yet?

2- TALK TO THEM. Practice using new words in your conversations.
Remember those daily calendars that had a “word of the day”? Those things actually help! It helps increase YOUR vocabulary and in turn, helps increase theirs when you use your new words while talking to them. Same idea as tip #1- If they are hearing it, they are leaning it. Another way to increase your own is through audio books- I’m currently listening to a book called “The Girlfriend” by K.L. Slater.

3- Learn about a range of topics and discuss the meanings of new words.
Our theme of the month came from this concept. In order for us to expand our knowledge overall, we came up with having a theme each month (This month’s being Jungle). We have found this to extremely helpful on our homeschool journey- PLUS I’ve seen it help in so many other ways! One of which is teaching us new vocabulary that we need to comprehend new subjects.

4- Play word games together.
Another way we like to learn vocabulary is by using games. SimplyFun hsa plenty of options like “Chalk-A-Word”, “Word Bits” and “Bid A Letter” to top our favorites! We also love “Bananagrams”, “Scrabble” and “Wordsmithery”. The kids don’t even know we are doing school! We use games like this for family game night and sometimes they are even requested for date nights!

5- Develop a reading habit to increase your own vocabulary, then share.
Again- developing your own vocabulary AND reading habit increases theirs. Funny how growing up we always heard “do as I say, not as I do”, then as adults we easily fall into what they did instead of what they said. Now it’s up to us to break that pattern and be responsible with our example. Our kids will inevitably be the adults we SHOW them how to be. So pick up the book, settle down for a bit and ENJOY LIFE as you are meant to. I know we all want this future for our own kids- let’s show them the way.

What’s your favorite word?