Vocabulary: How to learn ONE word for four different text types

Are you working with your child to learn new vocabulary for their writing? 👀

Great! 🤩

Aside from the recommendation to read, read, read, I also suggest this …

Learn ONE word and use it in sentences for four different 11+ exam writing text types.

The reason this works?

Well, I’ve repeatedly seen children learn a word they love and a year or even two later, they are still weaving it into their creative writing in imaginative and exploratory ways.

Why does this happen?

Have they yet to learn any new words?

Not at all!

I think it’s because that particular word was taught in context, using a picture or text extract. It was probably explained well, with its use demonstrated in various ways across text types. Time for learning, exploration and application was given.

Learning a long list of words without context doesn’t always work for creative writing. Learning ONE word, well, does.

Learning vocabulary for writing differs from learning words on flashcards for some VR exercises. In creative writing, you are faced with a blank page and must recall the word, meaning, context, and position in the sentence structure.

Here is an example of how ONE word can be used in four types of 11+ exam writing.

Word

flocculent

Meaning

(adjective): soft and looking like tufts of wool

👉TEXT 1) 11+ story writing about a snowy scene

The first snows of winter lay thick and flocculent.

👉TEXT 2) 11+ diary entry describing a walk in the park

Today, I took a wonderful park walk; flocculent white blossom showered me with happiness.

👉TEXT 3) 11+ persuasive text (formal letter)

Recent figures reveal that this flocculent attitude is getting the Town Council nowhere!

👉TEXT 4) 11+ descriptive text

Over the bustling city, flocculent clouds pass languorously.

Would your child like to have a go?

I’ve popped a task below. Give your child about 20+ minutes to do it well. I’ve included a picture so your child can imagine a smell/gas/smoke spreading across a city.

Have fun writing!

Anna

Home Challenge ✍️

New word = nocuous

Definition = noxious, harmful, or poisonous.

(note: the antonym is ‘innocuous’, meaning not harmful or offensive).

Step 1: Look at the picture (attached in the chat below).

Step 2: Say the word and understand the definition.

Tip: to learn to say a new word, type ‘nocuous definition’ into Google. The dictionary definition that appears will have a loudspeaker symbol. Hit this, and the word will be read aloud to you.

Step 3: Now, use NOCUOUS in four different text-type sentences.

Sentence 1: Use it in a story sentence to describe something (smell/gas/smoke) drifting across a city.

Sentence 2: Use it in a diary sentence to describe a change in attitude from a family member or friend.

Sentence 3: Use it in a persuasive speech sentence to describe a bad attitude by local town councillors.

Sentence 4: Use it in a description sentence to show a shoal of scavenging fish appearing in a beautiful lagoon.