It was pointed out to me the other day that the kids in my dds class (jr/sr high kids at a homeschool stlye private school) did not know certain words that I figured were just part of regular talk and norm... today in Drama class I came across words that were 'commonly used' around my homeschool families and my own kids would know what it meant even from TV... they had to ask me what it was. I explained it as I would and thought about the fact that maybe its because we homeschool? (warning question coming up) Do your kids aka homeschool kids, seem to have larger vocabularies than other kids aka public school and private school kids>? Why do you think this is? I should add that up to this year I have not done formal 'vocabularly teaching'.
My Ditz is always asking me to *speak English*; I'm an English Lit graduate so I give her some leeway, especially as she is NOT an academically inclined child. Consequentially I thought she had a particularly poor vocabulary ~ until she began her drama class. Drama is her Shakespheare element & all the kids doing it do it because they enjoy drama ~ including the public school kids. I was shocked/horrified to realise my Ditz has one of the best vocabularies, better than even the older children, & is one of just 2 not really struggling with the Elizabethan English. I think it's the reading. Homeschooled kids, for the most part, read more than their PS counterparts. They probably partake in more conversations with adults too. Makes my Ditz look like a blooming genuis. Scary!
I think it's because they are around adults all day who refuse to "speak kid" in order to get their attention, and to make things understandable. I have a rule in my house - you don't know what it means? Look it up in the dictionary. I think that helps them take more ownership of it and learn what it means without it being drilled. I, also, as mentioned before, think it's due to the reading my kids do. Don't get me wrong, they do their fair share of twaddle. But they are also exposed to great literature, that I'm assuming some schools don't even touch. I'm always worried about not doing enough with vocab, but we'll be sitting reading a book and my kids can almost always tell what a word means by how it's used in context. That's cool...and I didn't teach that. Their brains taught them that! My mom told me a story about my son talking about her cooking dinner one night. He came into the kitchen and said "oh Grandmom, the aroma of that food is making me famished!". My mom dropped her spoon. She looked at him and said "What does aroma mean?" He told her. "What does famished mean?" He told her. She relayed the story to me later. Mind you, my son was SIX at the time!!! I also love my oldest will sometimes come up with a word, she's like a walking thesaurus! I love it.
I agree - I have an expansive vocab as a Eng prof, and use that vocabulary regularly - even in just everyday conversation. As a result, my kids, according to my friends (even many of my hs friends) "talk funny" (in a good way, they all quickly add!) For example: Today I was teaching creative writing in our co -op and part of it is vocabulary building. One of the words was "superfluous" (means "more than enough") and this is a word that is part of my common vernacular. Everyone in the class looked to my son (youngest in the class) to see which definition he selected as the correct one - since he's my son, he knew what it meant! I totally cracked up at that! Plus, we also have our kids read "better" literature, and often lit that is above their "grade" level, so they are exposed to a better range of lit overall. Kids in PS who read a lot and above their grade level will usually have better vocabularies as well - my college freshman comp class does not.
We use superfluous in our house all the time too!!! How funny! LOL (and I'm not an Eng Lit prof!!!) I did want to be one at one time. I'm so looking forward to my kids getting to high school lit (I have dreams of my daughter doing a Jane Austin year where we read chronologically through all Jane's books, and read her biography, etc. LOL!!!)
I HAVE A NEW WORD!!! Phillip is taking a science class at the co-op on animals, in which I am the aide. She's talking about how animals are classified, etc., and has introduced words that are new to some of the kids (but not to Phillip), words like TAXONOMY and VERTEBRATE/INVERTIBRATE, etc. Well, last week she mentioned one that was BRAND NEW (!!!) RATITE!!! It's a flightless bird (like a kiwi or ostrich, it doesn't have a keel bone). But the penguin isn't considered a ratite.
I didn't realize until this year that I, apparently, have a much larger vocabulary than most people I know. In the last few months I've been told repeatedly, by different individuals including my husband, that I speak above their heads. This came as a big surprise to me. I don't think I'm a very well read person. I just like to talk a lot so I have an interest in words. lol. Anyhow, I suspect that simply by being around me most of the time that my children will also have a better-then-average vocabulary. I think, as has already been stated, that simply being around adults more than most PS kids that home-schoolers will tend toward a more diverse vocabulary. Reading more than most can also contribute.
My kids have better vocabularies than many kids their age. It started young I remember laughing with my husband one evening about my 2 year old talking in a full sentence about seeing a train, including what color it was, while his friend was saying choo choo over and over again. This was long before I decided to homeschool. My 5 year old loves to use big words and every now and then he comes up with some really funny misuses, but he does amaze me with how many he uses in the right way.
I concur that the reason is mostly due to their reading. They have more time to read and parents who obviously encourage them to read--and read themselves. When do the ps kids have a chance to read all afternoon--or stay up late reading? I'm sure you guys, like us, spend a lot of time at the library and used book stores. We are teaching them how important and fun reading is to Mom. I have never had to force my kids to read for an alloted amount of time. One of my son's friends can't play "until he's read for 20 minutes"... That aside, another reason for their vocabularies may be that we talk to them. And, as homeschooling Moms we obviously have always talked to them and taught them about their worlds. We know which words they do and do not know--don't you? I know when I've said or read a new word and sometimes I will define it, and sometimes not. Hand in hand with this goes the moronic programs on tv that so many kids are sat in front of at an early age--and would rather sit in front of than read the boring neoliterature that their teacher is making them read. Just recently, I've supplied my 11 yo with a highlighter to highlight the words in books he doesn't know. He had the idea to use an index card as a bookmark and jot them down as he reads.=) Sometimes, I don't even know, haha!
okay the word was "sweltering" AND one of the jr highers actually looked it up in a dictionary to find out what it meant. It has been quite sweltering here lately so she commented on it in passing. I told her it was good that he looked it up because it showed initiative!
I was accused of plagerism in jr. high because my report was full of "big words you don't even know the meaning of." So I proved I knew what they meant and recieved an A. My parents were well read (although not highly educated) and spoke to us without talking down to us. I just like words...My dc get accused of talking funny all the time. I don't usually make them look a word up, although we often will look it up together if I can't explain it well. I think it is a combo of how your parents speak and reading. We definitly have discussion about peoples perceptions and how they can be influenced by the way you communicate. Even my kiddo that has trouble with reading and vocabulary specifically speaks as well if not better than the "average" kid. To improve his vocabulary we have to really find meaning in the words...not just a definition, but apply it...he can memorize it for a test...but it won't go IN there unless we can apply it, often. (currently one of his biggest frustrations is vocabulary in math...he is good with the numbers and this is a strength for him...so now that he needs to know what a factor is, what a multiple is...it is getting tougher.) He is also horrid with peoples names. I am not sure what to do about that.
I remember classmates of mine making fun of me for using words they didn't understand. Very frustrating. My parents never spoke baby-talk to us nor did we...er, uh...nor did I ever speak baby-talk to our kids. Dc both spoke very, very early. I assumed that meant they would read early as well. Not so. My dd was a late reader and still struggles with comprehension. Her ps teachers are 'baffled' by her vast vocabulary. She can decipher any word, but she struggles understanding what she's read. She can, however, use a wide array of words while speaking and quite effectively, I might add. (BRAG: she consistantly wins the class spelling bees, too) All that to say that I think vocabulary can have more to do with what you hear than what your see/read. My dc vocabularies were well advanced waaaaaay before they could read. And if it had more to do with what they read, then ds would only speak Star Wars languages.
HAHAHAHA!!!! "Sweltering"....anyone else wisked away to Throw Momma from the Train ? "The night was......" (Momma's voice): "Sultry!"
Good point! Perhaps it's the reading aloud that is the culprit! I certainly speak a greater variety of words when reading aloud than in normal conversation.
very interesting! We do read more than the average family I am sure, plus we watch documentary stuff as FUN tv.. and love educational tv... Science shows , how to shows etc, and we always have had the idea of if you don't know it look it up!
My DS is being homeschooled for the first time. It seems that the principle thought that his reading was at a second grade level. Since having him at home he is quietly reading while I fix lunches. He is currently breezing through a book on Greek Mythology that he asked the librarian for at our last visit. It seems that one of the Greek God's was mentioned when he watched a documentary on the Titanic early last week and he wanted to know more. Should I also mention that he is 11 years old and is being homeschooled for fifth grade. Just another example of the inadequate PS system. His vocabulary has always been above his age level. His two DS's are 28 & 25 and his DB is 23. He had to keep up with all of us, lol.
I think many of you have said it correctly: we talk and discuss with our kids without "dumbing down" our language, and the huge amount of reading that many homeschooled kids do increase their vocabulary. My dd has a ps friend who, while she likes my ds, told my daughter that he makes her feel a little "stupid" since he uses "such big words." Keep in mind that she's older than he. Funny thing is we don't consider them "big words" around here. Carol
