Plus, research shows that general vocabulary knowledge is a good predictor of academic
achievement. Studies also show that vocabulary exposure increases with daily reading time. Between kindergarten and Grade 12, students with an average daily reading time of 30+ minutes encounter 13.7 million words in that time frame.

Simply put, the more students read, the more words they know, and the more they see school success.

But how else can you help your child build a more robust vocabulary?

10 Ways to Improve Vocabulary Skills

1. Read extensively 
2. Keep a vocabulary journal 
3. Use apps 
4. Play word games
5. Watch movies and TV shows
6. Listen to podcasts
7. Use a dictionary and thesaurus
8. Join a book club 
9. Use flashcards
10. Practice, practice, practice!

1. Read Extensively

Reading is the most effective way to build your vocabulary. Read books, magazines, and newspapers that cover a wide range of topics, and pay attention to unfamiliar words. Help your child look up their meanings and try using them in context. In fact, 15 minutes is recognized as the ideal time for students to see positive gains in reading achievement; students who read just over a half-hour to an hour per day see the greatest gains of all.

2. Keep a Vocabulary Journal

Making a vocabulary journal is a great place to collect and interact with words your child hears or sees in their reading. Each page should be dedicated to a singular new word, including its definitions, synonyms, and antonyms. Review the journal regularly together to reinforce your child’s learning. 

3. Use Vocabulary Apps

Vocabulary apps are helpful tools for memorizing and expanding your vocabulary. These apps can help build your child’s confidence and increase your standing among your peers. Here are some great vocabulary apps that you can download for your child today: 

• Word of the day
• Memrise
• Word to word
• Vocabulary.com
• Word up

4. Play Word Games

One of the most effective ways for young children to gain knowledge and develop crucial abilities is through play, so word games make it fun and easy for kids to build a larger vocabulary. Work games such as crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and Boggle are fun and challenging ways to improve vocabulary. They also help you learn new words in context.

5. Watch Movies and TV Shows

Watching movies and TV shows can expose your child to new words and phrases. When watching TV or a movie, have your child pay attention to the dialogue and note any unfamiliar words. When the TV show or movie is done, have your child look up the meanings of the new words and try to use them in context.

6. Listen to Podcasts

Podcasts on a variety of topics can expose your child to new vocabulary. Listen carefully and take note of any unfamiliar words. Look them up and try to use them in your conversations. Check out these Podcasts to expand your vocabulary and knowledge. 

• 6 Minute Vocabulary by BBC
• Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day by Merriam-Webster
• The Vocab Man by Daniel Goodson

7. Use a Dictionary and Thesaurus

A good dictionary and thesaurus are essential tools for improving anyone’s vocabulary. When your child hears or is unsure of a new word, get them to look it up in the dictionary and then use a thesaurus to learn its synonyms and antonyms.

8. Join a Book Club 

Joining a book club can expose you and your child to new books and authors. You and your child can join a book club together. Many local libraries often have book clubs. You and your child can discuss books with other members at these book clubs and learn from their perspectives.

9. Use Flashcards

Flashcards can be a useful tool for improving vocabulary. Write the word on one side of the flashcard and the definition or a sample sentence on the other side. You can also include a picture to help you remember the word. Review the flashcards regularly, this will help reinforce your child’s learning and ensure that they retain the words long-term.

10. Practice, Practice, Practice 

The key to building a strong vocabulary is to use it regularly. Try having your child use new words in their conversations, writing, and everyday life. The more that your child uses them, the more they will become a part of their everyday vocabulary.

Building a strong vocabulary requires consistent effort and practice. Reading extensively, keeping a vocabulary journal, playing word games, and watching movies and TV shows are just a few ways to improve your child’s vocabulary. Use a dictionary and thesaurus to look up new words and practice using them in context. Joining a book club and learning a new language can also expand your child’s vocabulary. 

Remember, the key to success is practice, practice, practice.

Need Help with Building a Strong Vocabulary?  

At Oxford Learning, we can help students stay motivated while building a stronger vocabulary. Learn more about our programs near you.

Contact a location to get started today!

The post 10 Ways to Build a Strong Vocabulary appeared first on Oxford Learning.

However, with the right information and tips or even with the aid of services like the essay writing service reddit, preparing and writing your essay becomes a lot easier. Check out our guide for essay writing below to help you write a paper you can be proud to hand in.

Before You Start Writing The Essay

1. Pick Your Topic

Unless your teacher has given you a very specific topic, you will need to pick one. If possible, choose a topic that interests you. Once you have a topic in mind, narrow it down to make your paper more specific. You want to be able to prove a point with your chosen topic.

Example: “Golden Retrievers as therapy dogs” is too broad of a topic. A topic that is narrower, such as, “Golden retrievers as therapy dogs for residents in nursing homes” keeps your research and ideas focused.

2. Determine Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the main point you are trying to prove in your essay—it ties all of your ideas and arguments together into one or two concise sentences. A good thesis statement gives your reader a preview of what you will be discussing in the body of your essay.

Example: Golden Retrievers are ideal therapy dogs for seniors in nursing homes because they provide emotional support and companionship to residents.

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3. Find Sources

Once you have an idea of what you want to say in your essay, start finding sources you can use to back up your points. Aim to have at least 2-3 credible sources in your paper, unless your teacher says otherwise.

Some examples of sources include:

• Books
• Websites
• Published articles
• Encyclopedias
• Academic Journals

Always check with your teacher to find out what kind of sources he or she is looking for.
Once you have found (and read) your sources, take note of pieces of information you think could back up your thesis.

4. Create An Outline

Creating an outline of your essay will help make the writing process much easier. It is a way to organize your thoughts and structure them in a way that makes sense. Try to come up with three arguments that support your thesis. These arguments will form the body of your essay.

Example: Arguments to support the thesis could be:

• Golden Retrievers can sense emotion in humans.
• Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent and easy to train.
• Golden Retrievers are more calm and gentle than other breeds of dogs.

Writing Your Essay

All essays, regardless of length, have an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each of these sections serve a different purpose in your paper.

The Introduction

The introduction of an essay is one paragraph that introduces your topic and gives an overview of what will be discussed in the body of the paper.

The introductory paragraph is where you will state your thesis and the arguments that you will be presenting in the body of the essay. Avoid talking about the conclusion or findings in the introductory paragraph—you will be discussing those in the rest of the essay.

Helpful Tip: Even though it appears at the top of your essay, write your introduction last. This way, you can summarize the rest of your essay easily—it’s difficult to summarize something you haven’t written yet!

The Body

The body of your essay is where you present your arguments/evidence that back up your thesis.
Each paragraph in your essay should have:

• A topic sentence: What is this paragraph about? What are you trying to prove in this paragraph?
• Supporting sentences: How can you back up the topic sentence? What sources can you use to support your claim?
• A concluding or transition sentence: How will you keep your reader engaged? How can you link this paragraph to the next?

Every paragraph in your essay should have a unique claim/argument that supports your thesis. Always structure your essay to have the strongest argument in your first paragraph, and the next strongest argument in the final paragraph of the body. Your other argument should be sandwiched between your stronger paragraphs.

The Conclusion

The conclusion is the last paragraph in your essay. This is where you wrap up your findings from your discussion in the body paragraphs.

Start your paragraph by restating your thesis (although not in the exact same words). In a few sentences, summarize your arguments from the body paragraphs, and avoid discussing any new ideas that you didn’t talk about in the body of your essay. Finally, wrap up your findings in one final sentence.

Helpful Tip: Your final sentence should convince your reader that you proved your thesis.

References/Bibliography

The final page in your essay is the references page (sometimes called the bibliography). This is where you document all the sources you have cited in your paper. There are several different formats that can be used to reference sources, such as APA or MLA style. Your teacher may have specified a certain format he or she would like in your paper. If you are unsure, double-check with your teacher before starting.

Polishing Your Work

After writing the first draft of your essay, take one or two days before you go back and read it so your mind is fresh. Make any changes you think are necessary to improve your paper, such as reordering sentences, adding extra information, or taking out sentences that don’t add value to your arguments.

If possible, ask another person to review your essay for spelling, grammar, and clarity. A second set of eyes is helpful to catch small errors you may have missed.

Helpful Tip: Read your essay out loud to make sure it flows and your sentences are clear.

More Essay Writing Tips

1. Don’t force yourself to write your essay in order—start by writing the body of your essay first. Your introduction and conclusion should not be written until the main points of the body are completed first.
2. Don’t plagiarize. Plagiarism is taking other people’s ideas, thoughts, or work and presenting it as your own (or not citing your sources correctly). Always give credit where it is due.
3. There is no such thing as starting too early! Get a head start and prioritize writing your essay so you have plenty of time to review and edit well before the due date.
4. Keep your writing objective. Objective language helps convince your reader the facts you are presenting are strong and factual.Example:
   Objective: Golden Retrievers are loyal companions because…
   Subjective: I think Golden Retrievers are loyal companions because…
5. Avoid using slang terms and contractions. These words make your writing appear less formal.

Time To Get Writing!

Writing an essay can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Give yourself plenty of time to pick your topic, find your sources, and preparing your outline. Once you are happy with your ideas, just start writing! If you begin your essay well before the due date, you will have lots of time to edit and rework your essay. This way you can be confident in your work when it comes time to hand it in.

If you need more help with writing your essay, Oxford Learning is here to help!

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Over the summer…

1. Chat Away: Talk to as many people as you can! Don’t be shy; many people will be more than happy to have a conversation and help you with your skills. Check to see if there are conversation groups at your local library or community centre as well. The more you converse, the more you’ll learn!

2. Acknowledge Your Weaknesses: Have no problem understanding someone else speaking but stumble when it comes to responding? Can you hold your own during a conversation but have difficulties when it comes to reading/writing? Spend extra time focusing on your trouble areas. The only way to get better at something is to put in some extra work! Summer is the perfect opportunity to make great strides before next school year starts.

3. Have Fun: Boosting literacy skills doesn’t have to be a bore! Buy word search books, play language games with friends/family or online, or watch movies in English. Learning doesn’t always have to be about completing workbooks in the classroom! Read more about the benefits of board games for kids.

Be your child’s biggest cheerleader—access our study skills guide.

Come September…

1. Set Goals: Write down and share with others what you want to accomplish/learn/improve upon, and set CAM goals (Clear, Measurable, and Achievable). Break your goals into smaller parts and set milestones. For example, rather than a vague goal of wanting to go from a C to an A in English class, set incremental goals that you can track and measure. The best tuition for primary school English can help your children improve their English language skills! And don’t forget to celebrate even the smallest successes! More on goal setting for school success.

2. Nourish Body & Brain: Brains can’t learn if bodies don’t stay healthy. Get proper amounts of sleep, eat healthy as much as possible (don’t skip breakfast!), and get fresh air and exercise regularly. Healthy bodies = healthy minds! You can find more information on our blog about health and learning such as the benefits of eating breakfast and how sleep can help young learners.

3. Never Give Up/Remember Why You’re Learning: Focus on small steps/progression, but don’t forget the overall goal. Students have different reasons for becoming fluent in English (or any language for that matter), so when the going gets tough, remember the big picture possibilities.

Read more: Learning how to learn

For more information and additional tips/advice for ESL students, visit Busy Teacher

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