In the area of content reading your reading vocabulary can either be of assistance or hinder your success in getting through and comprehending the text.  There are many ways of deciphering the meanings of words including the use of context clues, learning affixes, and through repetition.  Once these skills are mastered your vocabulary will quickly increase and greatly improve your reading. 

Using Context Clues to Help Your Vocabulary

When you are reading and come to an unfamiliar word take a moment to carefully study the surrounding words in the sentence or paragraph.  These words can help you with the meaning of the unfamiliar word.  There are four types of context clues authors use when writing.  When you have mastered identifying and applying all four of the types frantically looking for your dictionary will be thing of the past.

A printable table of the four types of context clues, examples, and signals can be found at:

www.mc.cc.md.us/faculty/~steuben/public_html/vocabularycontext.htm

When you have familiarized yourself with the four types of context clues go back to the above website and click on Practice Vocabulary then you can test your knowledge! Here you will find 16 great sentences to help you practice your new skill.

As you read for your classes this week use the context clues around the unfamiliar words to help you figure out the meaning.  You may want to print out the four types to have handy from the above website!   

Using Prefixes and Suffixes to Help Your Vocabulary

Another way to quickly increase your vocabulary knowledge is to learn the most common prefixes and suffixes, and their meanings. Once you’ve learned the meaning of the prefixes and suffixes you can apply them to help you understand words you will encounter.  Remember prefixes are added to the front of a base word. (like with a prefix could turn into dislike) Suffixes are attached to the back of the base word. (active with a suffix may be activate)  These most common prefixes and suffixes can be found at this website:  http://www.uefap.co.uk/vocab/build/building.htm

After you’ve taken time to become familiar with some of the prefixes and suffixes go back to the website and test your knowledge.  After studying each grouping of prefixes and suffixes click on the blue word Exercise to practice using them.  Not only will studying prefixes and suffixes help you as a reader they will also greatly increase your abilities as a writer.

The next time you are given a list of vocabulary terms to learn by one of your professors check the prefixes and suffixes website to see if important parts of your words can help you come up with the meanings of the terms.  

A Couple of Practical Strategies to Help You With Your Vocabulary Problems!   

When attempting to learn new vocabulary words for class repetition is the key ingredient.  Here is a strategy you can use to help you learn them quickly.  Using repetition will not only help you remember the words and their definitions for a test, but it will also help you put the words into your long-term memory!  If you’re really feeling that organization would help strategy #2 is for you.  Once all of the tools are easy to find and in one place fixing your vocabulary problem should be easy!

Strategy #1: Spotting Unknown Words

When you are assigned a chapter to read in class one of the first things you should do is scan the entire chapter to familiarize yourself with the content.  Look at all of the vocabulary words in the chapter (they are usually in bold face type) when you come to a word that you do not know the meaning, highlight it with a highlighter.  When you have found all of the unfamiliar words get out your notecards and write the word on one half of the card and the meaning on the other side.  Study the cards until you have a better grasp on their meanings.  After studying the cards several times cut the notecard down the middle and lay the cards face down in front of you play concentration, or memory, until you’ve matched all the pairs together.  Do this several times and you’ll master all of the words and their meanings.  I challenge you to try this vocabulary game now with some of your vocabulary words from a class…give it a chance and you’ll see results!

Strategy #2: Make Yourself a “Bring on the Vocabulary Kit”

Do you have an old backpack or plastic container that is just collecting dust?  Well if so, turn it into something spectacular and, dare I say helpful.  The essential goodies in this kit include a dictionary, of course, in case you get desperate.  Also put in a few highlighters so that you can highlight unfamiliar words while you’re reading.  This will make them easy to see when you go back and study for a test.  Notecards are always a must because you can use them in so many ways (including the game mentioned above).  A pair of scissors may be handy if you want to play the concentration game and you’re not in your room studying. You may also want to throw in a pad of post-its these are always helpful and you can note certain words you’re unsure of or use them as bookmarks to help organize your book and to mark difficult vocabulary pages.  You will also want to include the context clue guidelines and the most common prefixes and suffixes list.  If you’re using a bag of some type I would suggest finding a folder to put all of these guidelines and forms inside.

Context Clue Guidelines can be found at these two great websites:

http://www.mc.cc.md.us/faculty/~steuben/public_html/vocabularycontext.htm

http://www.how-to-study.com/Building%20Vocabulary.htm

Prefixes and Suffixes Pages can be found at this website:

 www.uefap.co.uk/vocab/build/building.htm

One Last Thought…

If you are just trying to increase your overall word power which will assist you in future reading and writing you may want to go to these websites which have excellent vocabulary building quizzes and exercises! 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm

http://www.syvum.com/squizzes/vocabulary/

References used in creating this page:

http://www.mc.cc.md.us/faculty/~steuben/public_html/vocabularycontext.htm

www.uefap.co.uk/vocab/build/building.htm

Dr. Petty and the entire LTCY 524 class for brainstorming together and sharing ideas!

- Contributed by Kelley Kaunisto, LTCY 524