SLK Learning Center

1. Words, Words, Words, and More Words!

“Use it, or lose it!”

Colleges and universities stress the importance of sophisticated language and rhetoric in their students’ writing and speech, and students are feeling the pressure of such expectations well before they even set eyes on a college application. As students start studying for the PSAT/SAT/ACT exams, they oftentimes feel bombarded with words, words, words, and more words, and the depository of vocabulary they have suddenly feels inadequate.

When your child comes across unfamiliar words in her/his reading, homework, and SAT/ACT Prep class, among other places, encourage your child to write down these words, along with their definitions, in a small notebook or on index cards designated for this specific activity. S/he can easily review—flip through—these words during mundane activities, like brushing her/his teeth or sitting in the car on the way to school. As your child becomes more acquainted with these words, s/he will more likely be incorporating them in everyday usage, whether in academic writing or spoken language.

Still, even your child’s efforts may not be enough. S/he needs to hear it from you too! You may already be using your child’s vocabulary words on a daily basis, but you may try focusing on the ones your child doesn’t know well. Kids need to hear and see these words in context. Remember, if you don’t use it, you lose it!

Quick tips:

• Write unfamiliar words on the back cover of novel, and look up definitions later.
• Purchase an electronic dictionary. It’s much less cumbersome than a 1,500-page college dictionary.
• Download an SAT/ACT vocabulary app from iTunes.
• Sign up for Merriam-Webster’s “Word-of-the-Day” via email.
• Set up your own “Word-of-the-Day”!

2. Word Search!

Learning new vocabulary can feel both daunting and exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Have your child do an online word search in The LA Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc. Simply enter a word in the site’s search engine, and a number of articles will pop up. Your child can read the word in a different context that will not only keep her/him informed on current events, but also expose your child to new vocabulary as well. It’s a win-win!

*The Root and The Feminist Wire are online magazines with editors-in-chief who are renowned college professors at Harvard and Vanderbilt respectively. The articles are written by PhDs and grad students who present arguments and use rhetoric and vocabulary consistent with college-level discourse. You may want to peruse these sites as well.

3. Practice!

Consistent practice is imperative, and prep books are certainly useful, especially the practice exams. Five to six weeks prior to the SAT/ACT, have your child take one of the exams per week, and proctor the test as if it’s the actual exam. Many students find that they fumble through the test because of the pacing and time restraints. Getting acquainted with the exam will not only relieve some of the anxiety, but also give your child more confidence as a test-taker. Once these exams become more familiar, students can concentrate their energy on the questions, rather than on the time and the overall import of their scores.