When we embarked on the 11+ journey to prepare my daughter, Patricia, for grammar school exams (she was in Year 4 at the time), I kept hearing the same advice: "Your child needs a strong vocabulary", "buy this book", "take this course", "follow me for daily new vocabulary words".
As a non-native English speaker, the idea of building up her vocabulary seemed daunting. There were countless options—books, courses, daily vocabulary challenges—that left me feeling overwhelmed. How could I determine which approach would truly help my child succeed on exam day?
The answer to that question became clearer once we received the exam results. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but from our experience, I can affirm that a robust vocabulary can make all the difference between passing and falling short.
In this article, I'll share the methods that worked for us, helping Patricia get passing marks at two grammar schools.
Five a day - handmade revision cards
It all started when she was in Year 4. While searching for 11+ vocabulary tips, I stumbled upon a video by Sheena Ager, where she shared her insights. Her "5 a day" method caught my attention—it seemed like the perfect starting point for us. And the best part? It didn't cost a thing, just a parent's dedication and commitment to sticking with it.
For about a year and a half, I faithfully used this method, carrying revision cards everywhere. One key piece of advice I'd offer to anyone trying this method is to not just write down new words but to incorporate them into daily conversations with your child. Yes, it can be challenging for non-native English speakers at first, but with practice, it becomes easier. Soon enough, it becomes second nature.
Now, for my younger daughter, who is currently in Year 2, things are a bit different. At this age, children are more interested in playing and exploring than studying vocabulary. So, I keep it simple. Each day, I write down just one new word on a mini revision card. We pick up these words from the school books she brings home. While these books might seem easy, by asking questions like, "Which word is new to you?" after each page, we can easily identify those new words.
It's a small step, but it lays the groundwork for her future success.
Tip #2: Mrs. Wordsmith Spiral Bound Vocabulary
Another resource we found invaluable for boosting vocabulary was the Wordsmith's spiral-bound vocabulary: Storyteller’s Word a Day. This flip book is a delightful tool. On one side, it features a funny character alongside the word, while on the back, it provides synonyms, etymology, and word pairs. Both girls thoroughly enjoyed exploring this resource. Each day, a new word awaited us at our table, making it impossible to ignore.
With my Year 2 daughter, we're currently using the My Epic Life Word Book. This fantastic resource contains 1000 hilariously illustrated words aimed at enhancing various skills, including social skills, emotional awareness, counting, shapes and measurements, hygiene, outdoor adventures, and arts and crafts. Designed for ages 3-7, it's proving to be an engaging and effective tool for expanding her vocabulary in a fun and educational way.
Tip #3: CGP Flashcards
Our third resource for boosting vocabulary was the CGP flashcards. These flashcards became a staple in my car. During trips, I would engage the girls in a game where I asked about the words on the cards. The one who knew the most words would receive a reward at the end of the trip. It turned out to be a fun and effective way to keep their vocabulary sharp while on the go.
Tip #4: Games: Word search, Worlde, Wordscapes, Scrabble
Wordscapes, Worlde, and Word Search are all free word puzzle video games available on Android and iOS platforms. These games serve as excellent brain exercises, sharpening young minds while providing entertainment. The only drawback of the free versions is the presence of ads. However, despite this, both of my girls still enjoy playing these games.
On the other hand, we've also turned to the classic game of Scrabble. In this word game, players use letter tiles to create words on a board. It aids in vocabulary development by prompting players to form words from a finite set of letters, fostering creative thinking and the exploration of new words.
If you're interested, I've also written another post sharing Tried-and-Tested Free Resources for Grammar School.
What vocabulary resources do you rely/relied on for grammar school exam preparation or simply to boost your child's vocabulary? Share your go-to tools with me in the comments below.