Level Up Words: Tricks for Improving Vocab Level Up Words: Tricks for Improving Vocab Does your child ever say, “I know what I want to say, but I just can’t find the words?Have you noticed your student using words like “good” or “nice” seven times in a single essay?Is your child’s writing clear, confident, and full of descriptive power, or does it feel a bit… bland?Does reading homework turn into a battle because of too many “mystery words” on the page?Ready to see your child’s confidence soar as they discover the power of a rich and varied vocabulary?Imagine an essay where every word shines with purpose, not just “good” but captivating, exemplary, superb!We are excited to introduce our VSA Future Vocabulary & Book Club summer evening class, where your child can tackle difficult texts and write with sophisticated language!First, let’s take a look at one trick that your child can employ in his/her writing today!Latin Root ExampleYou’ve encountered a word in a text but it’s missing the last few letters (see below). You are asked to decode the general idea the word means, but you haven’t taken VSA Future’s vocabulary courses so you aren’t sure what to do. Thankfully, we are here to help you even if some letters are missing!You might be thinking, how do I know what a word means if it’s missing letters? Here comes the magic of one of the core concepts we teach in our vocabulary courses: Latin and Greek roots.Thankfully, we know that “Aud” is a Latin root that means “to hear,” and is one of the roots VSA vocabulary students will learn. This root helps us understand words like “audio” or “audience” as they both involve nouns that listen.So, even if we don’t know the last few letters of the word mystery, we can guess that it has something to do with hearing!As we can see here, knowing just the first few letters of a word can help us guess what a word means. When we see a word we don’t know, we can use this trick to get a general comprehension of a word!Learning just one root can help us understand so many different words! Greek and Latin roots are fundamental for our understanding of English words. As such, we emphasize Greek/Latin roots in our vocabulary classes to ensure that your child understands difficult words.Vocabulary & Book Club ClassIf you found this tip helpful, our Vocabulary & Book Club summer class explores various other roots to help your child feel more confident when encountering unfamiliar words. Through our exercises and classes, students will master their words and use them in sentences and in their own papers. See some sample exercises below!Our Vocabulary & Book Club classes are held twice a week for two hours each class. All classes will be in the evening hours and will be held virtually, allowing your child to join and enrich their vocabulary from anywhere in the world!Our Teaching StyleAs mentioned previously, our classes highlight Greek and Latin roots to understanding words. Since many English words rely on Greek and Latin roots as a foundation, one can understand or guess the meaning of several words by recognizing the root’s meaning (as seen in the above example).Our classes mix teacher instruction and hands-on practice exercises for your child. This way, your child can become more confident in their ability to decipher any words they encounter or use them in everyday conversations!Our courses are focused on practical application in the real world. This allows students to be prepared to use rich vocabulary words for any assessment, project, or application.Importance of VocabularyA strong vocabulary is the foundation of effective communication, reading comprehension, and academic achievement. It empowers students to understand complex texts, express ideas clearly, and boost confidence in writing and speaking. From understanding an SAT reading passage to writing effective job cover letters, a strong vocabulary toolbox is a necessity for any school subject or career.As such, VSA Future puts a heavy emphasis on vocabulary knowledge in several courses, such as English Language Arts, Reading & Writing, and Vocabulary & Book Club.Join VSA Vocabulary Classes!Interested in joining our vocabulary program to grow your child’s vocabulary? To learn more about our classes, visit our page on our vocabulary program, email info@vsafuture.com, and call 973-951-9600 to learn more!You can also register for our class at this link.
