Help: Vocab For English Enrichment Class.

[Anastasia13]

Maybe some homeschool people here can help me out.

I am an english tutor at a non-profit. We are starting an english enrichment program. One of the aspects I need to address is vocabulary. Our competition uses books of words and definitions that are grade level for each grade, where kids go over 50 words a week.

I am looking for a way to efficiently have material to compete because our class has already started. Can you give me any resources or links that I might be able to use? I teach 4th-8th grade.

Also, is jr. high too early to just use a bunch of SAT words?

I am a new teacher, used to tutoring college business, so any help would be appreciated

Edited January 29, 2011 by Light and Truth

[homeschoolmom]

I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but would this help?
http://www.flocabulary.com/word_up_orange_wordlist.html

or this: http://www.vocabulary.co.il/suffixes/#middle_school

[M.C. Macabees]

Hey,
I happen to be in the field of Language acquisition and especially at that age level, don't worry so much about vocab. Start with functional phrases such as "Where is the bathroom?" and then break down the sentence with them.

ex:
'where' question of location
'is' to support the question
'the' article
'bathroom' lavatory


now this particular explanation is a little complex for 4th grade but the idea is that when learning a second language, you pick it up by watching other people to pick up phrases that you will get the most out of. As they break down the sentance you give them, they learn a bit about grammar and also some vocab. Part of the problem though is that English is a horrific language. with 26 symbols and something like 48 sounds that can interchangeably alter over 1100 words....well, you have your work cut out for you.

How much english do these children know? Can they pidgin yet or are they completely unable to skeep any english?

Good luck.

MC


ps-here are some workbooks that you may find useful.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/043928046X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0521348633&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1G36ZGGKT4Q41ZHW9EP9

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870117564/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0521348633&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1G36ZGGKT4Q41ZHW9EP9


Check this site to work on vocab. It should be free.
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/

or
http://www.brainpopesl.com/

and another
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/



It may be helpful to use them for yourself as a resource in teaching your class.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='M.C. Macabees' timestamp='1296314676' post='2206347']
Hey,
I happen to be in the field of Language acquisition and especially at that age level, don't worry so much about vocab. Start with functional phrases such as "Where is the bathroom?" and then break down the sentence with them.

ex:
'where' question of location
'is' to support the question
'the' article
'bathroom' lavatory


now this particular explanation is a little complex for 4th grade but the idea is that when learning a second language, you pick it up by watching other people to pick up phrases that you will get the most out of. As they break down the sentence you give them, they learn a bit about grammar and also some vocab. Part of the problem though is that English is a horrific language. with 26 symbols and something like 48 sounds that can interchangeably alter over 1100 words....well, you have your work cut out for you.

How much english do these children know? Can they pidgin yet or are they completely unable to skeep any english?

Good luck.

MC[/quote]
Skeep?

Umm, my kids are pretty decent at English. The place is run by Chinese Americans for Chinese Americans. My students grew up in America, but parents maybe maybe not. Some of the stereotype is true about them and parentally imposed academic standards. If parents see 240 words taught here and 2000 words taught there, they may be more included to go to the latter. We want a marketable program. One of my two 6th graders is at a 5th grade vocabulary level according to his STAR testing, this is done throughout the state. He is at the 3rd month of 5th grade, vocab speaking. He has been behind for the last three years. This is a major concern of the parents.

[Lisa]

Hi! One of my favorite sites is [url="http://www.freerice.com/"]freerice.com[/url] . It donates grains of rice each time they get an answer right, and does levels according to right/wrong answers. I know this wouldn't be like your "teaching", but it's always nice to have fun activities- and ones that help others, too!

[Groo the Wanderer]

Start them with the Summa, then move on to grander works.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1296310779' post='2206336']
I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but would this help?
http://www.flocabulary.com/word_up_orange_wordlist.html[/quote]
I've been to this website. I am most interested in the words. I thought about just printing the list and then typing up the dictionary definitions.

The thing with actually ordering off of this website is that it uses CDs. I don't know that we have the soundproofing to use these and not interfere with the math class that goes on at the same time. Also, while I could do that for now, as the classes grow, I will have mixed level classes. If a 5th grader does the 6th grade work, then he does not have that to learn as much when he is in 6th grade and in the same class, or I could do the 5th and teach the 6th below grade level.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1296333741' post='2206470']
Hi! One of my favorite sites is [url="http://www.freerice.com/"]freerice.com[/url] . It donates grains of rice each time they get an answer right, and does levels according to right/wrong answers. I know this wouldn't be like your "teaching", but it's always nice to have fun activities- and ones that help others, too!
[/quote]
I love that website, though we do not have computers in the classroom, and I don't know if I can assign computer work like that. What think ye? I never went to public school between 1st-12, so I do not know what it is like.