Vocabulary lit for the 11+

June 27, 2024•2 min read

What I’ve done is taken the list (I think there’s approximately 100+ words on there) and split them into smaller groups.

Within the 11+ there is a high expectation that your child will need a broad vocabulary.

I must confess many of the words they suggest you/ your child may not be familiar with I’ve had to check and double check their meaning as they are not words commonly used in everyday language.

There’s a list that can be downloaded on Google – I think you’ll find it if you search suggested vocabulary for the 11+.

What I’ve done is taken the list (I think there’s approximately 100+ words on there) and split them into smaller groups.

Then used that subgroup to create a snakes and ladders, word search, list that can be used for hangman or scrabble letters.

With scrabble letters what I do is have the list in front of us. We each choose a word but don’t tell the other person which one you’ve chosen.

Find the letters, given them a shake, and pass them to the other person.

They then have to try and figure out what the word is.

You can also check that you are both happy with the meaning of the word and google it if you’re not familiar with it.

Again, it’s just trying to mix up ways of learning the syllabus so that you are creating more memories.

You can obviously use these ideas for weekly spellings or words that needs to be learned at higher levels (at GCSE you might find the themes involved in the play your studying, or short quotes, characters, etc).

Our goal at Clara James Tutoring is to make learning fun and accessible to everyone. If children are engaged in what they are doing they are more likely to want to participate, if they are enjoying it, they are more likely to relax and retain the information.

If they are retaining the information it will help boost their knowledge and with knowledge comes confidence.

If you have a child who enjoys learning through games and being more creative, and you enjoy spending time with them, you might be interested in the Clara James Approach, the membership group we have put together to support you in supporting your primary school aged child with their maths and English.

Interested?

Click here to learn more: The Clara James Approach

Dawn Strachan

For the past 20+ years I have been a firm believer that learning should be an enjoyable experience. I appreciate that traditionally education has revolved around worksheets, textbooks, listening to teachers. But a grounding in early years and working with children who had a variety of learning styles from I learned that it is an individual activity that is personal to all of us. We don’t all learn in the same way. Our influences, our experiences, our capabilities all influence how we retain information. But through it all, I believe that if we can make it enjoyable and engaging, they will want to participate. With participation comes practice which in turn boosts skill and confidence. With an increase in skill and confidence comes a willingness to have a go. This in turn leads to more practice which leads to a positive spiral of success. The moral, we need to make learning fun, engaging, use a range of techniques.

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