While summer is a great time to relax, it is also the perfect time for students to work on their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, both of which are crucial for success on the ISEE and SSAT. Just a few minutes of daily practice at home can make a significant difference. Below are some tips that will help your child build habits that will help them succeed on the exams.
Read Often and Develop Good Habits
Reading is just like any other skill: you have to practice to get better. The best way to improve reading skill is through exposure, because the more students read, the more comfortable they become. Ideally, students should read one article daily for quick improvement, but even reading one article per week can significantly enhance their skills over the summer. Reading with your child helps them see words in context and practice comprehension. To help them build good reading habits, encourage them to:
- read news articles. For lower-middle level students, Time for Kids offers excellent elementary-level news articles. For older students, reading one or two New York Times (or similar) articles daily and discussing any unknown words can help. This not only builds vocabulary but also keeps them informed about current events.
- pre-read. Have your child look over the structure of the text before reading to determine which sections are the most relevant to their reading goals.
- identify main ideas as they read. Help your child practice identifying and writing the main idea of paragraphs as they read. This skill is vital for reading comprehension sections of the tests.
- make predictions. Encourage your child to anticipate what will come next as as they read.
- use a think-aloud strategy. A think-aloud involves saying what you are thinking while you are reading. This strategy has been shown to improve students’ comprehension.
Create Flashcards
Make word-of-the-day flashcards. Private Prep offers pre-made Quizlet flashcards for different levels of the ISEE/SSAT: Upper Level Vocabulary, Middle Level Vocabulary, and Lower Level Vocabulary. Alternatively, create your own list using programs like Membeam and Quizlet that automatically load definitions.
Use a Dictionary
Keep a dictionary nearby to look up any unfamiliar words. This helps reinforce learning and understanding of new vocabulary.
Use Vocabulary Workbooks
Use vocabulary workbooks such as Vocabulary Workout for the SSAT/ISEE, The Vocabulary Workbook for 8th Grade, The Vocabulary Workbook for 7th Grade, and The Vocabulary Workbook for 6th Grade for structured practice.
Play Online Vocabulary Games
Engage your child with online vocabulary games tailored to the level exam they are preparing for.
- Upper Level: Ski Racer: Synonyms, Dino Skateboarding: Antonyms
- Middle Level: Treasure Diving: Synonyms, Match: Synonyms
- Lower Level: Step Right Up Synonyms & Antonyms, Word Frog
Learn Words in Context
Research shows that the majority of words are learned from context. Understanding how words are used in various situations and sentences significantly benefits vocabulary acquisition, recall, and retention. The more examples a student has of how a word is used, the more precise their understanding of the underlying concept will be.
With the right approach and support, summer preparation for the ISEE or SSAT can be both productive and rewarding. By integrating these practices into a summer routine, students will help themselves build a strong foundation in vocabulary and reading comprehension, setting them up for success on the ISEE or SSAT and beyond!
For more personalized guidance and expert test prep resources, contact us. Our expert tutors provide tailored support to help students achieve their highest potential.
