We encourage a love of language in people of all ages, but it’s particularly important for young children and teenagers to develop an interest in vocabulary improvement, because a solid foundation in English vocabulary will help them in their early school years, in their university study goals, and eventually in their careers. Each step builds on the previous one, and if children are accustomed to making vocabulary improvement part of their regular routine, it will only become easier, and more enjoyable, as the years go by. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or a teenager yourself, we think you’ll find these books excellent resources for the young people in your life.

Name That Movie! A Painless Vocabulary Builder (Brian Leaf)
There are two volumes in this set of books that use what kids love – movies! – to get them interested in vocabulary: an “action and comedy” version, and a “drama and romantic comedy” version. Both use movie quotes containing advanced vocabulary words (including regurgitation and extravagant and amorphous) that teenagers can expect to see on the PSAT and SAT tests they’re probably studying for anyway. The book is set up so that it can be used for self-study or as a group activity, and would be an excellent adjunct to an after-school study program; use clips from the movie to give students the opportunity to hear the words being used, and then quiz them on the definition and spelling later.

The SAT Word Slam (Jodi Fodor)
With clever rhymes, Fodor uses the power of poetry to make word definitions easy to understand and memorize. The 500 words in this book frequently appear on SAT and ACT examinations, and the unique format of this book practically guarantees that students will learn them quickly, and have fun at the same time. For today’s tech-savvy teens, you can order this for Kindle.

10 SAT Vocabulary Practice Tests (Paul G. Simpson IV)
Regular vocabulary study is important, but there’s no substitute for experiencing the pacing, format, and style of an actual test. Although there are opportunities for students to take a practice SAT several weeks prior to the examination, getting started early with these sample questions will help the student identify and focus on what might cause the most problems. For example, if you take the first sample test and discover that you have difficulty choosing the right synonyms to complete the sentences provided, you’ll know that it’s important to include more practice in your vocabulary study on researching related words.