Practical Tip Word Banks

Here’s this week’s practical tip for emerging writers ~

In my past post Word Banks I shared how, by jotting down a list of thematic words from the topic we had just read, my young middle schooler confidently wrote her narrations. These word banks assisted her memory, helped with spelling and enabled her to write detailed, accurate sentences.

How and when do you make a word bank?

Sometimes it helps to read and discuss important new words before reading a chapter/ topic/ theme. Look up or talk about the meanings of these words. Find a synonym (words with similar meanings) for each word and then use the new word in a sentence. After this activity and before you read aloud, ask your child to listen carefully for the word bank words when your read. Some kids become really excited when they hear “their” words! In this way you are preparing the child to learn new information.
My youngest child wrote out her own list of important thematic words or concepts she wanted to remember during the read aloud. She felt more secure when she had main facts on her little white board. Although Charlotte Mason encourages simple focussed listening, I found my child was less stressed about her narrations if she had her own word bank ready.
With emerging writers, oral narrations precede written narrations. While my child orally narrated her summary to me, I wrote out the main points/ phrases/ important words on her white board and created a word bank during her oral narration. She then used these words to write out her narration. This helped her remember the sequence of ideas and helped her with her spelling.

How does a child use the word bank words?

Start simply saying each word. Read each word aloud and pronounce them correctly.
Add to their meanings. All new information needs to be attached to previous knowledge. Try find root meanings in a word.
Use each new word in a sentence. Vocabulary should always be learnt in context.
A Charlotte Mason narration aims to be as precise and as close to the original text as possible. By copying an author’s style and language use, your child will develop their own creative writing skills!
Place word bank words in sequence. Ordering thoughts is a very important skill.
Keep sentences short and simple.
Once an emerging writer manages to write the word bank words in simple sentences, encourage them to add descriptive words and details. This is how each child’s work is unique and original, even if they all use the same word bank words.
Finally, indicate new thoughts with paragraphs (skipping a line and starting on a new line).