Building Your Vocabulary: Core Strategies
Ever wonder why some students seem to always know the right word? Creating word lists organized by themes is a great place to start your vocabulary journey. Group similar words together to make them easier to remember and use.
Learning synonyms and antonyms gives you options when you speak or write. Instead of using "good" all the time, you could say "excellent," "fantastic," or "superb." Using context clues from surrounding words can help you figure out unfamiliar words while reading.
Make friends with your dictionary and look up words you don't know. Understanding root words, prefixes, and suffixes is like having a secret code to unlock meanings. For example, knowing that "bio" means life helps you understand words like biology and biography.
Try This! Create colorful flashcards with new words on one side and definitions on the other. Review them while waiting for the bus or before bed. Make it fun by turning it into a game with friends!
Reading regularly exposes you to new words naturally. Whether it's books, magazines, or even game instructions, every bit of reading builds your word power. Keep a word journal to collect interesting words you find, and challenge yourself to use a new word every day.