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The Teaching Home
E-MAIL NEWSLETTER
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
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Volume II, Number 21
Nov. 27, 2002
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You are welcome to forward this newsletter in its entirety.
Table of Contents
15-Part Series on Basic Skills: #3 Vocabulary
Vocabulary-Building Activities
Bible Vocabulary
Vocabulary Links & Resources
Recommended Home-School Products & Services
Christmas Carols Sweet and Clear CD
Punched Paper Needlework Kits
Children's Books
Don Aslett's Clean Report
Sunny Side Up (Humorous Anecdote)
Greetings!
In this issue we address Skill #3: Vocabulary in our 15-part
Basic Skills series.
It is important for our children (and ourselves) to build
a good collection of the most essential communication tools --
words.
We have provided many vocabulary-building activities in the
article below. Your enthusiasm in studying words together as a
family can help your children love and enjoy learning words,
their meanings, and appropriate usage.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Would you please pray with us that we can raise the funds
necessary to resume publication of The Teaching Home
magazine? Buying back issues (see below) is a great help.
Thank you!
May the Lord richly bless your family for His glory.
Sincerely,
Sue Welch
for Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian Welch
The Teaching Home is a home-school family business
produced in our home since 1980.
http://www.TeachingHome.com
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Christmas Carols Sweet and Clear CD
By Joy Marie Dunlap and family. Gentle, harmonious, relaxing
music, classical in style. No rock beat! Order soon for
Christmas listening. Also Joy Marie’s Family Discipleship
Magazine, curriculum, and a magazine each for boys and for girls.
To hear our CD, go to http://www.familydiscipleship.net/playsong.
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15-Part Series on Basic Skills
by Cindy Short and Sue Welch, sisters and editors
You can evaluate your children's skill levels and help them
improve in those areas where you see a need by using these
practical ideas for learning activities.
These 15 skill areas are similar to those that are included
on standardized tests. Topics will include:
1. Listening - Vol. II, No. 18
2. Word Analysis - This Issue
3. Vocabulary
4. Reading Comprehension: Facts
5. Reading Comprehension: Inferences
6. Reading Comprehension: Generalizations
7. Spelling
8. Capitalization
9. Punctuation
10. Usage
11. Visual Materials
12. Reference Materials
13. Math: Concepts
14. Math: Computation
15. Math: Problem Solving
Basic Skill #3: Vocabulary
First, we should note that an expanded vocabulary is not for
the purpose of impressing people, but to enhance communication.
A clear understanding of a large number of words is a
valuable asset to any person. It allows him to understand what
others say or write and also to effectively express his own
thoughts and feelings.
Well-chosen words give to both speech and writing the
increasingly rare qualities of accuracy, clarity, sensitivity,
impact, and even beauty.
A good command of vocabulary contributes to success in
life-long learning, in interpersonal communication within family
or other relationships, and on the job.
Vocabulary-Building Activities for All Ages
1. Teach and Learn Words in Context of Life.
__ Extensive reading (or listening to audio tapes) of good books
will naturally add many words to your vocabulary. Older books
have larger vocabularies than more recently published books.
__ During oral reading (yours or your child's), daily
conversations, or family Bible reading, stop to ask and answer
questions about the meanings of words that you think your child
might not know. Also explain the meanings of any new or important
words that you wish to emphasize.
__ For young children, you can insert a known synonym after an
unknown word as you read or speak. This will help them
understand you and learn vocabulary without stopping your reading
or speaking.
__ Keep a dictionary nearby so that you can easily look up a word
without a long interruption.
__ If you know of unfamiliar words or words you want to emphasize
that will be encountered in your reading, define them before you
start and have your children watch for them.
__ Teach words in context, not in isolation. Always use the word
in a sentence after reading or explaining its definition.
__ Encourage your children to ask questions when they hear or
read words that are new or confusing.
__ An electronic or software dictionary may encourage your child
to look up words. Some have a feature that pronounces the word.
__ Practice using new words in sentences and daily conversation.
Share the new words with Dad when he comes home or at the dinner
table.
__ Use billboards, signs, ads, and newspapers to introduce new
and different uses of words.
(Vocabulary is continued below.)
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Build Your Back-Issue Library
Visit The Teaching Home's On-Line Store
Easy & Secure Ordering
http://theteachinghomen.goemerchant7.com
Select from 51 Never-Out-of-Date Back Issues
Search for Topics You Need
Each Issue Is Pictured and All Articles Are Listed
Practical How-Tos & Teaching Tips
Inspiration & Encouragement
"The Teaching Home has been a part of my continuing
education since I started home schooling. I have kept every
issue and often go to back issues to find creative, helpful hints
or inspiration." Meredith C., Florida
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Vocabulary-Building Activities for All Ages
(Continued)
2. Study Related Words Together.
__ Learn both synonyms and antonyms of a word to more clearly
define it and help your child remember and use it.
__ When you are studying a word that has a homonym, explain it
and learn its spelling so that confusion will not arise later.
__ Explore the depth and shades of meanings or connotations by
looking the word up in a thesaurus. Discuss differences in
meanings of words that are similar, but not identical, such as
giant and huge.
3. Learn the Building Blocks of Words.
__ Develop word building skills by learning the origins of words,
roots, and compound words.
__ Learn common prefixes and suffixes.
ab- (away from)
be- (on all sides, overly)
de- (reversal, undoing, downward)
dis-, dif- (not, reversal)
ex- (out of, former)
pre- (before)
re- (again, restore)
un- (do the opposite of)
ad- (to, toward)
com-, con-, co- (with, together)
en-, em- (in, into, to cover or contain)
in- (into or not)
pro- (in favor of, before)
sub- (under, beneath)
(Vocabulary is continued below.)
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Make a Family Heirloom with Punched Paper Needlework Kits
Make your own reproduction vintage "motto sampler." All
supplies provided. Text is Christian or family value, or
Scripture quotation. Very easy to do. Complete the "Merry
Christmas" Kit in only 7-8 hours (a few nights). Read about
history and see mottos and stitching instructions at
http://www.VintageNeedleworks.com.
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Vocabulary-Building Activities for All Ages
(Continued)
4. Learn New Words Systematically and Regularly.
__ Study all aspects of a word, such as its
Origin
Meaning and Connotations
Spelling
Pronunciation
Usage
__ Cover all vocabulary skills, including:
Input: Understanding the word used in context when
reading or listening.
Output: Ability to use the word in speaking or writing
(includes spelling).
__ Read a dictionary together -- especially a children's
dictionary with illustrations. Read a page or column each day
and you will be surprised at the words you find and the
opportunities you will have to use them. There are also daily
calendars that have a vocabulary word for each day of the year.
__ In a good dictionary, look for the usage of the word, i.e.,
when to use which word, and which preposition is usually used
after it. (The American Heritage dictionary has usage entries.)
__ Teach your child to use specific words rather than generic
ones to enlarge their vocabulary and communicate more
accurately. e.g., instead of top, use blouse, T-shirt, dress
shirt, turtle neck, or sweater.
__ Most good reading, writing, or spelling curriculum includes
some vocabulary study. Or you can purchase vocabulary-building
texts, flashcards, or audio tapes and books on word origins
(etymology).
__ Every area of knowledge has its own special vocabulary that
helps to accurately define its unique information. These words
need to be learned well in order to master the subject matter.
In fact much of a subject can be learned by simply studying and
learning the definitions of the special words.
(Vocabulary is continued below.)
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Children's Books
We are your source for Rosetta Stone, Apologia, Saxon, EPS,
Lamplighter, AOP and many more! Save 25% to 70% off of your
homeschool materials through November 30th!
http://www.childsbooks.com/teachinghome.htm
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Vocabulary-Building Activities for All Ages
(Continued)
5. Play Word Games.
__ Play word games such as Scrabble, Upwords, Boggle, Taboo,
Hangman, and crossword puzzles that challenge vocabulary skills.
Some games have Bible versions. (Good gift ideas.)
__ Make up oxymora (the plural of an oxymoron). An oxymoron is a
paradox (meanings which are contradictory to each other), reduced
to two words, usually adjective and noun (eloquent silence) or
adverb and adjective (inertly strong). These are used for
effect, complexity, emphasis, or wit. Which are most commonly
used, funniest, or best make a point?
(Send us a few, and we will put some of the best ones online
for everyone to see.)
__ Make up Ink-Pinks by defining and then guessing rhyming pairs,
e.g., an "unhappy boy" is a "sad lad." A two-syllable
combination is an Inky-Pinky, e.g., a "comical rabbit" is a
"funny bunny." You can do three or more-syllable words as well
(Inkety-Pinkety, etc.).
(Send us a few, and we will put some of the best ones online
for everyone to see.)
(Vocabulary is continued below.)
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Bible Vocabulary:
Words and God's Word
It is evident from Scripture that God places great value on
words, provided they communicate truth in an honorable manner.
God directed Adam to name the animals, Noah to preach to the
perishing, Moses to issue the Law at Sinai, and prophets from
Samuel to the Apostle John to deliver many vital messages to His
people or to their enemies. He has inspired every word of our
Bible, preserved it over the centuries, and fulfilled His promise
to bless those who read, meditate on, and obey it.
The importance God gives to the concept of communication is
reflected in one of our Lord's names -- the Word (John 1).
1. Study what God Says about Words and Their Use.
It is enlightening and profitable to study what God has to
say about words and their use. You can do this by using a
concordance or the search feature of an electronic Bible or Bible
software program to look up related words. Some words to study
include:
word(s)
speech, speak, spoke(n), spake
tongue, lips, mouth
read, write, written
book(s), Scripture(s)
communication, answer
law, statute, testimony, judgments
command(ments), precepts
instruction, teaching
You can also use a topical Bible, cross references, or
subject searches to find related passages.
Some key Scripture passages about words include:
God's Word
Psalms 19 and 119 - David's love and appreciation for God's Word
II Timothy 3:16 - the inspiration and profitability of God's Word
Psalm 1 - the success of those who meditate on God's Word
Nehemiah 8:8 - oral reading and explanation of God's Word
Careful Words
Psalm 141:3 - guarded speech
Psalm 19:14 - prayerful speech
Proverbs 16:23 - wise words
Proverbs 20:15 - knowledge
Proverbs 15:2 - wise words
Matthew 12:36 - idle words
Encouraging Words
Proverbs 16:24 - pleasant words
Proverbs 25:11 - words fitly spoken
Proverbs 15:1 - soft answer
Proverbs 15:4 - wholesome life
Proverbs 15:26 - pure words
Hebrews 10:24 - provoke to love
Malachi 3:16 - speak to one another
Destructive Words
Proverbs 18:21 - death and life in power of the tongue
Ephesians 4:25 - put away lying, speak truth
Ephesians 4:29 - no corrupt communication, but good and edifying
James 3:2 - offend not in word
James 3:6 - the tongue is a fire
II Timothy 2:23, 24 - avoid foolish questions, don't strive
Psalm 34:13 - keep tongue from evil, lips from guile
You can use these same methods and resources to study any
topic in the Bible.
2. Study Vocabulary Uniquely Used in God's Word.
Another valuable study would be to list, define, and study
vocabulary words that are special to the Bible or its teaching.
For example:
Faith, Salvation, Repentance
Justification, Reconciliation, Sanctification
Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent
Infallible, Holy
Sacrifice, Offering
Psalm, Parable
Prophet, Priest
Prayer
Communion, Baptism
Gospel
Creation, Incarnation
Heretic, Abomination, Enmity, Condemn, Blasphemy
Trinity, Eternity
Forgiveness, Atonement, Passover
Some of these words are not found in the Bible, although the
doctrines they represent are there. Others of these words are
used differently in the Bible than in modern literature and need
to be understood in their biblical context. A Bible dictionary
would prove useful in this study.
3. Use Word Studies To Better Understand God's Word.
Sometimes more than one Hebrew or Greek word has been
translated by one English word. One example is love, which is
agape in John 13:34-35 and phileo in John 16:27.
Other times the same Hebrew or Greek word may be translated
by two or more English words. For example, agape is love in
I John 4:19, but charity in I Corinthians 13.
You can find out which word is used in a given verse by
reading an interlinear Bible that gives the original language
directly under its English translation.
You can get the same information from some concordances and
at the same time find all the other verses that use the same
original word, whether or not it is translated the same.
Such word studies can enrich your understanding of Scripture
if you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you (I Corinthians 2:9-16)
and compare each verse with others on the topic to get the whole
counsel of God on the topic.
It is especially enlightening to identify distinct meanings
when a word seems to be repeated in a passage. For example, in
John 21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter twice if he loved Him (agape).
Both times Peter answered that he loved Him (phileo). Then Jesus
asked if he loved Him (phileo). This grieved Peter, but he
answered that he did love Him (phileo).
4. Use Words To Spread God's Word.
For a Christian, the most important use of words is to
persuasively communicate God's Word, His love, and the Gospel to
those around us. II Corinthians 5:14-20.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
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Vocabulary Links and Free Online Resources
1,162 general vocabulary words with brief definitions.
http://www.uoregon.edu/~osmirnov/gre/list.html
5,000 collegiate words with brief definitions.
http://www.freevocabulary.com
Vocabulary Studies.
http://www.vocabvitamins.com
http://www.m-w.com/wftw/wftw.htm
Word games, puzzles, drills, and activities.
http://www.funbrain.com/hangman/index.html
http://www.edu4kids.com/lang1
http://syndicate.com
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words
http://www.m-w.com/game
http://www.etymologic.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~ruthpett/safari
Free online dictionaries and thesauruses.
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm
http://thesaurus.reference.com
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary
Word usage.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/index.html
http://cctc2.commnet.edu/grammar/notorious.htm
http://www.amherst.edu/~writing/writingbetter/pitfalls.html
Latin and Greek elements in English words.
http://www.bjup.com/resources/products/latin
http://www.lexfiles.com/14-words.html
http://www.lexfiles.com/basic-grk-a-l.html
http://www.lexfiles.com/basic-grk-m-z.html
http://www.lexfiles.com/basic-latin-a-j.html
http://www.lexfiles.com/basic-latin-l-v.html
http://www.m-w.com/info/vocab/vocab.htm
Megalists of word links.
http://home.earthlink.net/~ruthpett/safari/megalist.htm
http://www.worldwidewords.org/wordlinks.htm
http://www.hoadworks.com/weblinks.htm
Bible Study Helps.
http://www.crosswalk.com
Resources
Facsimile edition of the original Noah Webster American
Dictionary of the English Language. Definitions express
Biblical perspective and reference Scripture.
http://www.face.net
Christian Student Dictionary.
http://www.bjup.com
Games. Rummy Roots and More Roots; Scattergories, Bible Edition;
Bible TriBond Game; Quickword; Bible Crossword on CD-ROM;
http://www.christianbook.com
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Sunny Side Up: Only in the South
Benjamin, 8, and I were playing Boggle. He spelled the word
"pire." I told him that was not a word. He said, "Yes it is,
Mama. You know it is in the song Pire in the Blood."
Sent by Kathy B., Banner, Mississippi
You are also invited to submit your humorous anecdote.
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God Loves You.
Because we were separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died
in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Jesus Christ
as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9).
http://www.TeachingHome.com/about/salvation.cfm
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