Beat the Bucking Bull of Vocabulary.

It happens to all of us.  We're reading at a nice pace when along comes a word we've never seen.  Many young readers (and some older readers as well) struggle with these new words.  The struggle to figure out new words can feel like riding a bucking bull.  Cody Custer, world champion bull rider and member of the famous Custer bull riding family, writes that in order to become a successful bull rider a person needs to have foundation.  He says, "Before any other aspect in the sport of riding bulls can be perfected, riding the bucking motion must become second nature for a bull rider to have a successful future in the sport."  So how does this translate to reading?  To be a successful reader, you must also have a basic foundation.  One element of this foundation is vocabulary.

As readers and users of language we have two types of vocabulary: receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary.  Receptive vocabulary consist of words we understand when we hear or read them.  Expressive vocabulary consists of words we can use correctly when we speak.  By the time a child is twelve years old his or her receptive vocabulary includes around 50,000 words.  So how do we build this foundation of vocabulary?  Here are some tips on building vocabulary:

• Read to/with your child.  The more reading material a child is exposed to the greater the opportunity to learn new words.  Reading with your child also allows you to help them through new words.
• Talk with your children about the environment around you.  This will improve your child's ability to make connections with the text and will add new words and concepts to his or her receptive vocabulary.
• Teach your child to use context clues.  This is a strategy children learn in school and should be encouraged to use at home.  Context clues are clues in the text surrounding the unknown words. Students can use these clues to figure out a new word's meaning.
• Check it with a dictionary.  Whenever I asked my father what a word meant his answer was always the same: look it up.  I did.  Using a dictionary to verify meaning is a great way to increase vocabulary.
• Learn at least one new word a day.  There are several "word of the day" programs available on-line and through text messaging.  Encourage your child to try and learn and use one new word a day.

Bull riding and reading are two different things, but the can both be a lot of fun when built on a proper foundation.  A vocabulary is a life-long building project.  Every time we read we should be learning new words.  Keep reading and keep building your vocabulary.  This week's featured books are a great place to start.

This Week's Featured Books:

Have you ever wanted to compete in a rodeo?  Well, Nellie Sue has.  Her dream is to beat the Rodeo King in the race around the barrels.  However, at the rodeo she finds herself using her wrangling skills to save the day.  Complete with amazing illustrations, this book is a must read.

Author: Rebecca Janni

Audience: Ages 3 to 10

Length: 32 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (2012)

ISBN-10: 0803737343

ISBN-13" 978-0803737341

If you want to know the details of the lives of the African Americans who blazed the trail in the old west, look no further than this book.  This book is a fascinating account of real-life history full of rare vintage photos that allow you to meet these heroes face to face.

Author: Lillian Schlissel

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Length: 80 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Aladdin (2000)

ISBN-10: 0689833156

ISBN-13" 978-0689833151

Ever since she was younger, Tye Jenkins has wanted two things: to be a rodeo rider and to have Jake Miller. She had to choose one and rodeo was the winner. At 27 years old, Tye suffers an injury while competing in a bull riding event.  She wants to ride again, but her spirit is as broken as her body.  With her career in limbo, Tye is suddenly thrust back into Jake's world as he is tasked with helping her recover.  Can Jake help her heal and help her ride again?  To find out, open the book.

Author: Grace Branniganl

Audience: Adult

Length: 301 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Quester Books (2012)

ASIN: B008NTRE7C