<p>I have a brother in middle school and I would like him to lightly study vocab, like do a “5 a day” program. Is there such a program on the web? And I would like it based on a list of like ~1000 words… I don’t want “barrons mini dictionary” or “direct hits” (that’s for when he’s in HS). And I’d also rather not have him learn extremely complicated words lol, like “lugubrious” or “vertiginous” yet. </p>
<p>Any recommendations?</p>
<p>Oh and btw don’t get the idea that I’m enslaving my brother to study for SATs in middle school. Bad vocabulary skills run in the family, and I don’t want him to end up like me (who in 9th grade, got more than half of the SC questions wrong). He’s a normal kid, not a nerd lol</p>
<p>IMO, nobody should start studying for the SATs until the end of Sophomore year. If they must, early sophomore year I guess can’t hurt, but it’s just unnecessary. Middle school is just overkill. If, however, your brother wants to study vocabulary simply for his own intellectual benefit, maybe go to a book store and look for vocabulary lists that are designed for his age group, or, better yet, (if it’s offered at his school) take latin!</p>
<p>Well, I learned a lot of my SAT vocab words from middle school teachers. My 6th grade teacher had us learn Greek/Latin roots, and my 8th grade teacher had us learn SAT words like vertiginous and lugubrious. </p>
<p>I think the roots were more helpful and easier to learn, so I would suggest teaching him roots for now.</p>
<p>A friend tutors for the SSAT (the test used to get into private schools) and said that the DH Core Vocabulary book was very helpful to her 7th & 8th grade students. Words like recalcitrant and obdurate do appear on the upper level SSAT. You already have the books, so have him start learning the first 100 words. He will probably enjoy the examples. Any literature he reads like The Red Badge of Courage or to Kill a Mocking Bird you can google for vocabulary and usually find a list of words for the book.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters not to put too much pressure on him about learning the words now. Ask him to quiz you on the words. My younger son liked to try and stump his brother.</p>
<p>The thing is that he reads *a lot<a href=“like%20he%20finishes%20a%20book%20every%20other%20day%20consistently%20throughout%20the%20year”>/i</a>. And like me, he reads fast and simply doesn’t pick up vocabulary. </p>
<p>Learning some vocab words occasionally, or a few daily really isn’t a big deal. The “pressure” and “torture” are nonexistent, I assure you. He’s a popular kid who has high academic hopes - I just want to utilize some of his downtime that he and all middleschoolers have plenty of.</p>
<p>Then give him the books you already have purchased and let him work through them.</p>
<p>My sons were very pleased when they started to recognize SAT words in their reading and I’m sure all the work you have been doing has not gone unnoticed by him.</p>