How to improve vocabulary for the 11+?
Building a strong vocabulary is crucial for the 11+ exam. Here are 10 effective ways parents can help improve their child’s vocabulary at home, with examples for each:
- Encourage Regular Reading
Provide a variety of reading materials, including books, newspapers, and magazines. Reading both fiction and non-fiction exposes children to a wide range of vocabulary.
Example: Encourage your child to read books like Harry Potter (fiction) or National Geographic Kids (non-fiction) to encounter diverse words.
- Personalise Learning
Tailor vocabulary-building activities to your child’s interests, whether they enjoy adventure stories, science, or history, to make learning more engaging.
Example: If your child loves space, provide books or articles about space exploration. They’ll learn words like “astronaut,” “galaxy,” and “orbital.”
- Use Flashcards
Create flashcards with the word on one side and its meaning, synonyms, and example sentences on the other. Quizzing your child regularly helps reinforce learning.
Example: Write “benevolent” on one side, and on the other side, list its definition (“kind and generous”), synonyms (“compassionate, charitable”), and an example sentence: “The benevolent teacher donated books to the school.”
- Incorporate New Words and Word Choices in Daily Conversations
Introduce new vocabulary and discuss different word choices in everyday conversations. Encourage your child to use these words in context to help reinforce their meanings and understand subtle differences in word selection.
Example: While discussing a recent event, ask, “Was the weather stormy or gloomy today?” Then explain how “gloomy” describes overcast skies, while “stormy” implies heavy rain or wind.
- Play Word Games
Games like Scrabble, Boggle, or “20 Questions” are a fun way to improve spelling, meaning, and usage of new words.
Example: During a game of Scrabble, challenge your child to use new vocabulary words they’ve learned. You can also play “20 Questions” by thinking of an object and having your child ask questions to guess it, encouraging the use of descriptive language.
- Watch Educational TV Shows or Documentaries
Expose your child to academic language through documentaries or educational programmes. This builds vocabulary in real-life contexts.
Example: Watch nature documentaries like The Blue Planet or Planet Earth and pause to discuss the scientific terms and animal-related vocabulary they encounter.
- Write Regularly
Encourage your child to write stories, essays, or journals using new words. Writing helps reinforce vocabulary and improves usage.
Example: Ask your child to write a short story about a “mysterious” event, using words like “enigmatic,” “intrigue,” and “suspense.”
- Daily “Word of the Day”
Introduce a new word each day and encourage your child to use it in sentences. This habit strengthens their vocabulary over time.
Example: For “ephemeral” (meaning “lasting for a very short time”), encourage your child to use it in a sentence like, “The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, disappearing as quickly as it came.”
- Use Educational Apps
Apps like Quizlet or Memrise can help your child learn and review vocabulary through interactive digital flashcards.
Example: Use Quizlet to create a set of flashcards for 11+ vocabulary words. Quizlet’s interactive features allow your child to practise these words through games and quizzes.
- Create a Word Bank or Word Wall
Have your child record new words in a dedicated space. Revisiting this list regularly helps reinforce their meanings and usage.
Example: Set up a word wall in your child’s study area with new vocabulary words and their definitions. Regularly review the words and challenge your child to use them in conversation.
These 10 tips, along with the examples, can help your child develop a strong vocabulary foundation, setting them up for success in the 11+ exam and beyond.
