When attempting to learn new vocabulary words for class repetition is the key ingredient.  Here is a strategy you can use to help you learn them quickly.  Using repetition will not only help you remember the words and their definitions for a test, but it will also help you put the words into your long-term memory!  If you’re really feeling that organization would help strategy #2 is for you.  Once all of the tools are easy to find and in one place fixing your vocabulary problem should be easy!

Strategy #1:

When you are assigned a chapter to read in class one of the first things you should do is scan the entire chapter to familiarize yourself with the content.  Look at all of the vocabulary words in the chapter (they are usually in bold face type) when you come to a word that you do not know the meaning, highlight it with a highlighter.  When you have found all of the unfamiliar words get out your notecards and write the word on one half of the card and the meaning on the other side.  Study the cards until you have a better grasp on their meanings.  After studying the cards several times cut the notecard down the middle and lay the cards face down in front of you play concentration, or memory, until you’ve matched all the pairs together.  Do this several times and you’ll master all of the words and their meanings.  I challenge you to try this vocabulary game now with some of your vocabulary words from a class…give it a chance and you’ll see results!
 

- contributed by Kelley Kaunisto