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In cleaning up for CTC, I came across the box we used to store our vocabulary cards for Preparing. Is it just me, or did we not do anything *with* those. They did there definitions, we filed them, then they never looked at them again. Did I miss something?

Not that I know of. My kids all kept a notebook with the definitions in them. For me, it has been neat to go back through them and see the things they came up with.

I'm just amazed at what the vocabulary part of the plans has taught our dc!!! Really, I personally think it is one of the most comprehensive ways to teach vocabulary that I have ever seen. What we did with vocabulary in PHFHG involved many important LA skills - locating the vocabulary word in the history book, looking at the word in its context, guessing its meaning using contextual clues, using the dictionary to discover which definition matches the best, copying the definition onto a card, illustrating the vocabulary word's definition, properly using the vocabulary word in a sentence of their own, and finally alphabetizing it. Not much more needed to be done to it for 'vocabulary' skills to be taught. Carrie had this to say in regard to vocabulary...

We do actually address vocabulary from Bigger Hearts on up, doing vocabulary study through the history readings within Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts; through the science readings in Preparing Hearts, CTC, and RTR; through Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons in RTR; and through DITHR at all levels. We do study root words and prefixes and suffixes through Rod and Staff English as well. Through living books, children who use HOD are provided with a rich vocabulary in all of their readings daily.

My own boys have a huge vocabulary in their own written work that I believe comes from years of oral and written narrations from books full of a rich vocabulary used in a living style. My boys standardized test results in vocabulary have been in the 99th percentile every year! While I don't put an incredible amount of stock into test results, I share our kiddos' results as it is one measure for which vocabulary programs are so often taught.

At HOD we make sure to formally teach vocabulary within the context of what the children are already reading and to expose them to a rich vocabulary through our book choices as well. If you desire to focus on latin and greek roots, there are many programs you can do on your free 5th day each week to address that desire for your family. I'm not sure whether HOD will be focusing on that particular aspect of vocabulary in our future guides, however we do make sure to include vocabulary study formally and informally every year.

We are standardized testing this week. I have found our sons' vocabulary work to be terrific! They totally get how to answer those questions, and their vocabulary is wonderful for their respective ages due to the way HOD teaches it. So, you don't have to do one more thing with those PHFHG cards! Everything possible has already been done with them, and you can pat yourself and your dc on the back - well done with vocabulary!!! Having done PHFHG's vocal plans - you have accomplished much, and it's all good! No worries there.

In Christ,
Julie