Tests vs reading books for expanding vocabulary
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:44 am
Dear all,
I've read many times that seeing a new word in the context i.e. reading books is the only right way for expanding vocabulary but somehow our experience in a last few months is different.
DS is in Yr5, preparing for Verbal Reasoning exam GL format.
After working through spelling and vocabulary books and identifying more than 1,000 new words in 4 months, I see that my son became more confident reader. Challenging classic books now are less frightening.
So basically, in our experience - the word was identified and learned while doing daunting tests and now when we read books, it's always a happy moment to see a newly acquired word.
I doubt that we would be able to identify more than 1,000 words in the period of 4 months by just reading books. I am certain that we won't be able to write down 1,000 sentences. It's not just time consuming activity but very boring from my son's point of view and I understand him. The words we identified, DS still remembers them and we are reviewing them from time to time.
The question is - shall we carry on, and our way is just one of a few or I am missing something important here?
In terms of reading level - DS is reading daily min 30 minutes (in Yrs 1-4: 15-20 minutes). At the moment he is reading "The Deathly Hallows" and helping parents to understand some words. I know that some of his friends are reading more challenging classic books but we are also speaking another language at home.
Our main goal at the moment is to expand vocabulary. I am not questioning benefits of reading books, doing comprehension, creative writing, just asking experienced parents/tutors if our way of learning has some disadvantages and we need stop picking up new words from tests and just spend more time reading good books.
I've read many times that seeing a new word in the context i.e. reading books is the only right way for expanding vocabulary but somehow our experience in a last few months is different.
DS is in Yr5, preparing for Verbal Reasoning exam GL format.
After working through spelling and vocabulary books and identifying more than 1,000 new words in 4 months, I see that my son became more confident reader. Challenging classic books now are less frightening.
So basically, in our experience - the word was identified and learned while doing daunting tests and now when we read books, it's always a happy moment to see a newly acquired word.
I doubt that we would be able to identify more than 1,000 words in the period of 4 months by just reading books. I am certain that we won't be able to write down 1,000 sentences. It's not just time consuming activity but very boring from my son's point of view and I understand him. The words we identified, DS still remembers them and we are reviewing them from time to time.
The question is - shall we carry on, and our way is just one of a few or I am missing something important here?
In terms of reading level - DS is reading daily min 30 minutes (in Yrs 1-4: 15-20 minutes). At the moment he is reading "The Deathly Hallows" and helping parents to understand some words. I know that some of his friends are reading more challenging classic books but we are also speaking another language at home.
Our main goal at the moment is to expand vocabulary. I am not questioning benefits of reading books, doing comprehension, creative writing, just asking experienced parents/tutors if our way of learning has some disadvantages and we need stop picking up new words from tests and just spend more time reading good books.