Topic: Use Word Association to Teach Vocabulary and Rhyme
Topic Posted by:John D. McCall
Date Posted: Sat Sep 9 10:11:28 US/Eastern 2006
Topic Description: Nursery rhymes teach vocabulary through word association in narrative. This practice may be expanded for people of different ages. For example, there is a “fictional rhyming dictionary” on my website at http://www.benandverse.com/writings/rhyming-a.htm.
It strings rhyming words together in a way that suggests events in stories. If the visitor reviews these words occasionally, he/she may learn rhymes rather easily. In this way, more rhymes would be at the versifier’s command.
As you will see below the result is atrocious verse, and the narratives are ridiculous – but perhaps not less memorable for being silly. Here’s an example of teaching rhymes for the sound “ack.”
"-ACK
'THE CURE:' Doc was a hack -- with no medical knack. (His fees backed black jack and his snacks at the track.)
And, now nabbed as a quack, he trades his fake plaque for horizontal striped slacks."
Well, it’s not meant to be literature.
Naturally, this brief “fictional” dictionary is not intended to replace large reference rhyming dictionaries.
Word associations of many kinds may be used as an effective way to teach rhyming, vocabulary, and an appreciation of the craft of poets of an earlier day.
