In-A-Flash: Honors Sophomore Language Arts

Building vocabulary is very important to improving your communication skills and also improving your reading comprehension. It is a significant part of your ASLA grade. These are points you should not miss.

There will be a vocabulary quiz on the last school day of every week unless I tell you otherwise. Be prepared. Do not wait until Wednesday or Thursday to start studying. It is very hard to remember vocabulary for the long term that way. You may get by on the weekly quizzes, but it will make the chapter reviews very difficult. There will be a review quiz every 5 chapters covering all previous words. On the semester final there will be a review over all the chapters covered up to that point and on the final there will be a review of all chapters covered for the entire year.

On the first day of the school week we will spend 5-10 minutes going over the pronunciation and nuances of each word in that week’s chapter. You must have your In-A-Flash books with you on the first day of the week. If we do not have time to go over the words, continue to bring your books with you until we do. Anytime you have a question about the exact meaning of a word or its correct usage, ask. Try to use the words you learn in class discussions, in your writing (although don’t overdo it) and in your daily discussions—this is how the words will become familiar to you. Pick one or two or three words a week to really make your own.

You are required to do the exercises in the book for each unit. We may go over these in class or I may collect the books on occasion. I may do a random check during your quizzes, so have your books with you on those days as well. If you do not have your book with you, you will not receive credit.

NOTECARDS: In addition to studying the words and doing the exercises, you are required to make a notecard for each word we cover. These will be checked several times throughout the year on random occasions. Notecards are to be done the weekend preceeding each unit and will be checked the day we cover the words or the day you are quizzed on them. Failure to have your notecards will result in no points for you. While we preview the words, you may add my examples or definitions to your cards.

• You must use notecards. Slips of cut-up paper are not acceptable. I suggest 3x5 (or 4x6 at most) cards, but any size will do.
• You must have your notecards neatly contained by a rubber band or organized by unit in a small file box.
• Cards must be neat, legible, and done in pen or marker (no pencil). Some students like to color code their words.
• The front of each notecard will contain the word in the middle of the card, the number of the unit in the top left corner, and your initials in the bottom right corner. Underline any roots you know.
• The back of the card will contain the part of speech (and other forms that I may give you), the definition (s), and if you want, a reasonable sentence using the word correctly. I may also give you examples or uses of the word for you to add, as well as related or similar words.

Use the notecards to study. Carry them around with you, at least the current ones. Look at them on the way to and from school or glance at them during breakfast or before bed. Say them out loud to yourself. Repeat them over in your head 7 at a time. Use them when you can. Make a game out of learning the words. Once you know a word, take it out of your pile for awhile to focus on the ones you don’t know. Review past chapters at least once a week.

Other ways to learn difficult words is to post them with stick-it notes on your mirror or fridge or in your locker so you see them constantly. You have to want to learn the words and realize it is important to do so. It is an active process. The best way to improve your vocabulary is by being an avid reader. This is the alternative. Television, which has a 6^th grade vocabulary, will not do it.

These words, while maybe not familiar to you, are words commonly used by educated people and are used frequently, not only on the SAT, but in the newspaper, on the news, and in literature and college text books. Once you learn them you will start noticing them everywhere.

Schedule: Sat/Sun -- make notecards for upcoming week

First Day of Week -- preview words/ bring notecards and book

T-R -- study/review

Last Day of week -- quiz/ have book and notecards