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My child, a sixth grader, loves technology. She also has a weak vocabulary. Are there any ways to combine technology and building vocabulary? — Multitasker
It’s important for children to have a good vocabulary. Academic success depends on the ability to understand what is read. Having a good vocabulary is one of the keys to comprehending material, especially new material.
Most children have a sufficient everyday vocabulary to communicate easily with others. However, the language of textbooks and classroom work is often far more difficult, as it involves language not ordinarily used in daily conversation. Fortunately, there are ways to expand your daughter’s vocabulary that involve technology.
You might start with having her explore word games. This way, she could be having fun while expanding her vocabulary. Your daughter might search with you online for word games. Make sure appropriate websites are chosen.
One site you might consider is vocabulary.com. It has a fun quiz that older elementary students can use to improve their vocabulary online. The quiz gives four potential meanings for a word, and students select the one they think fits. It’s ideal for elementary students because it provides a hint for students who have no idea what a particular word means.
Online reference tools can help your child immediately look up a word she does not recognize. She will be more likely to use this type of tool rather than a print dictionary, and many of these tools are free. Explore several with your daughter. Some can be mounted on the browser toolbar for ease of use.
Because students who have the best vocabulary are those who have acquired it through reading, encourage your daughter to read books that appeal to her. Many e-books have dictionary help that offers not only the definition of a word but also its pronunciation.
Your child should also begin to use the vocabulary help that is offered on many websites. For example, there is a word wizard that pops up when students are reading Scholastic News online. It is also possible for her to hear the articles being read aloud.
Finally, for your child to increase her vocabulary, encourage her to listen to audio narration of books, especially those that will let her have access to dictionary definitions of words that she might not know. And it would be wise to ask her teachers about websites that can be used to increase vocabulary. They are likely to have some excellent suggestions.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.
©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2019