Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

My dd is struggling with community college testing because she doesn't always understand the vocabulary in the questions. Not necessarily the vocabulary related to the material.

She has always really struggled to assimilate vocabulary no matter how much we read to her or made her read or did vocab workbooks.

But maybe if we can find something that specifically focuses on testing vocabulary, it would stick in her brain since she's seeing these words on her tests.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Can she take practice tests online and look up words when she doesn't know them? Or look at the end of chapter questions in the book to look up any words that are unfamiliar? It seems like the end of chapter questions frequently appear on tests with the exact same language

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

This is specifically for a history cc class. I don't have practice tests or anything. Probably a study guide but nowhere to see the actual questions.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Would root words be helpful? We LOVE word root rummy. Rather than improving vocabulary teaching her how to divide up the words to figure it out?

Is it multiple choose tests and not understanding the question or not recognizing the words that are answered?

Did she struggle w comprehension when learning to read?

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

I love the vocabulary cartoons books.

https://www.amazon.com/Vocabulary-Ca.../dp/0965242234

There are several.

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Wordly Wise if you are looking for a curriculum

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Not understanding the question. Like if they use the word infer or inference on the question, she may not know what it means and so she doesn't understand what the question is about.

She has a VERY difficult time actually inferring anything which is why vocabulary is extremely hard for her to assimilate.

She had a very hard time learning to read and comprehend. She still has low comprehension but what do you do to improve this as a college student?

She took the reading portion of the TSI (cc entrance/placement test) three times before she passed it. She passed the writing section on the first try. She's made As and in two college English classes, psychology, medical terminology, ethics, and college algebra. I think this history teacher is just really hard. But I think it's too late at this point to really remediate vocab unless anyone knows something very specific to college vocab common on tests.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

That's why i was suggesting practice tests online. Not so much for the actual subject content, but to look up words like "infer" as she takes a test. Maybe that will help? Or write down words she didn't understand ASAP after a test to look up and know for next time?

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Written or also oral? Does it make a difference if it’s read aloud?


My question was leading towards whether she would qualify for assistive resources for kids w disabilities but I’m honestly not sure abt comprehension . Has she ever been diagnosed w learning issues ? If kids qualify for college level assistive services, they can have access to certain computer softwares. Many read them for you but I’m unsure about vocabulary and comprehension . My son was able to get accommodation on his lifeguard and wsi exam and they reworded some. Obviously that’s not college but we were given the impression rewording was an accommodation our son could get for oral test taking assistance in college as well as extra time on timed tests

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

She's been tested and the only diagnosis they made was ADHD. She qualifies for some accommodations, which she didn't ask for this semester, but I don't think there really is anything that helps with vocab and comprehension. She can get extra time on tests, but her ADHD causes her to rush anyway so I don't think she could even use extra time effectively. I wish they'd let her have a dictionary. But I don't think they do.

Part of it is also not understanding difficult sentence structure too. I don't know how you remediate that. My only truck for increasing compensation is to read more and read harder stuff. And it takes time. She needs to slow down and attempt to grasp it but her brain starts to wander if she goes slowly.

She's considering taking ADHD meds but doesn't really want to start them mid semester.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Why not?

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

If she is concerned about side effects, maybe spring break would be a good time to try?

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

:pray4 ((((((hug))))) adhd deserve higher accommodations (it’s a frustration I know well :( ).

There are processes and ways to help improve comprehension beyond just reading but I can’t tell from your post if you’ve done them so I’m hesitant to start suggesting. :hugheart if you want I will explain what it usually done for people who struggle w comprehension and dyslexia.

I understand the hesitancy to start meds mid semester. It’s a hard decision. And it’s kinda Russian roulette in regards to whether it will work or not. You could do genetic testing for meds; however I will be honest and say that wasn’t helpful for S in regards to unbearable side effects :(

I’m praying.

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

She's never taken them and doesn't want to deal with side effects.

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---------- Post added at 07:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------

I will suggest this!

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---------- Post added at 07:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:04 PM ----------

I'm willing to hear suggestions. I've been a very bad mom in regards to my kids' learning issues. I just don't seem to have the bandwidth to deal with it.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

DS is studying for the SAT and this is what I told him to do. He told me he kept having to look words up from the practice tests so I told him to get a notebook and start writing them down along with a definition. Maybe some SAT vocabulary flash cards would help. Or maybe Google academic vocabulary and see if there is a list of words she can study.

---------- Post added at 09:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:32 PM ----------

I did a Google search and this came up.

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/7537949

---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

This too.

https://quizlet.com/549904484/academ...y-flash-cards/

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Thank you. I sent her the link. We used vocabulary.com in previous years but I think she learns better with pencil and paper. It's more anchoring to the task. I have suggested that she work through one this summer, but I haven't found a workbook yet.

The quizlet link is great for English vocab! She's already through with college English though. She made an A and a B in those classes!

I looked over what her history professor said about her essay. And I think he graded it way too hard. She might have to find a history professor with a different grading method! Basically it's 4 multiple choice tests. If you pass all of them, you get a C. You cannot get an A or B unless you do the essay question that goes with each test. You can get an A only if you get an A average on all the multiple choice AND the essays.

She's not good at multiple choice but she's better at essays. She got a 52 on the multiple choice and a 58 on the essay.

I don't think, based on his feedback, that she deserved a 58 on the essay. It sounded to me like she at least passed it.

She's taking a retest soon. He's only giving a retest on this one test. I told her if she can't make an A on the retest where she's already seen some of the questions, then she probably needs to drop because I'm not confident she'll be able to pass the other three tests.

She's definitely more likely to improve her essay score than multiple choice, but she's got to get at least a 70 average on the multiple choice in order to pass. It won't matter how good her essays are. Which is stupid.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

I wonder if I might be able to help with the essay portion - history essays are a different type of essay than English, and it can be tricky to get the analysis portion right.

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Maybe? She can't seem to access her actual essay but maybe she will be able to after the retest.

The essay didn't seem to ask for any analyzing. Just facts. And though she hit the minimum word requirement and answered all the prompt questions, his feedback indicated that he wanted more info. This is why I felt she deserved at least a pass. BUT I could only go by what she told me she said in the essay since we couldn't see her actual essay.

The syllabus said 500 word minimum and a good essay would be 750. She did about 500. I did explain that the minimum was probably only applicable to really amazing and concise writers. She's not one of those so I told her to try for 700-800 words next time.

He gives multiple test prompts ahead of time and then only chooses 2 to pick from on the actual test. So she's got to cram her head with facts for the multiple choice part plus enough facts to write 700 words on 3-4 separate prompts.

And this is a kid who is being exposed to this particular history material for the first time. US History part 2. So she doesn't have a lot of these facts already in her brain.

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Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

Did she do practice essays before the test? Does she have a study group so she can go over things with other students and see what their notes and essays are like?
In my college history classes, I was in study groups that went over material together, but some also did practice essays and made up prompts for each other. (I was sort of an amateur writing tutor along with being a paid science tutor, and would get asked for input a lot with essays and papers, which is why I remember even though it was eons ago).

If not, that is something that can be worked on with you (or an older sibling in college?) as test prep. Without other students in the same class, maybe you could find examples online. Even the AP history responses, though a different format, might help in seeing what is an adequate response vs. a suboptimal one. https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/...stions-by-year
If not, maybe some of the vocabulary in the questions might be of use.

Re: Workbook for vocabulary esp for testing?
 

You are not a bad mom. Learning issues can be so tricky and it sounds like you have worked hard on this :hug

This program has nothing to do w history and only has to do with comprehension and vocabulary. But I’m not actually sure that it would meet her issues. Only the person teaching her (you) or a person evaluating the learning issues would know.

Reading assistant (but it’s online not pencil and paper)- I just shared this in another post

https://www.scilearn.com/reading-assistant-plus/

“ Meet our online guided reading component of the Fast ForWord program that improves vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and prosody. ”