Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Vocabulary of Mysteries

If someone asks me what vocabulary program we use in our homeschool, I am likely to say "The Carolyn Keene Method".  What it involves is for the student to read Keene's Nancy Drew mystery novels NON-STOP.  In fact, the girls developed this vocabulary curriculum on their own.  Once every few minutes, I hear, "Mom, what does askance mean?" or "Mom, what does it mean if something disintegrates?".  I then either answer them immediately, or direct them to a dictionary.  That's it.  It's not like Wordly Wise 3000 or some other workbook-y or fancy-shmancy approach, but it works for them and keeps their noses in books.
Belle is currently "studying" The Secret of Mirror Bay.
....and studying....
...and studying.  I don't think we'll get to math for another hour or so.  

2 comments:

Amy said...

The way I learned lots of words as a kid was from READING. It is the best way, I think! You see words in their context and learn to figure out what they mean even if you never look in a dictionary! AND, I read every Nancy Drew mystery growing up too! I am so glad that the girls love to read, no wonder they're so smart :) Just like their Auntie Amy, haha!

Amy said...

By the way, I think that for you, blogging is another way of avoiding doing school :) You are a blogging maniac this week!