The Snowball Method: How to Study Vocabulary and Actually Remember It
Learning new vocabulary words is TOUGH, to say the least. How do you know how to spell them? How do you remember their definitions? What happens when my words are in another language?!?!
Trust me when I say this: You. Are. Not Alone. In fact, I faced these same struggles when I was in middle school. I had a literature teacher in the 7th grade who would give random literary terms pop-quizzes. If we didn’t know how to spell the word or write out its definition, then we would miss the question entirely. More than that, these quizzes were only 3 questions long. If I missed one, then I would get a 66%. Two, a 33%. God forbid I miss all three!
After a few 66%s and some scary grade sit-downs with my parents, I came up with the Snowball Method. This method helps you memorize, internalize, and know the spellings and definitions for any word that you are studying. I recommend this method for foreign language learning, English vocabulary words, and, of course, literary terms.
THe Snowball Method
Find your list of vocabulary words and their definitions.
This could be in a textbook, on a handout from your teacher, or in your notes.
Write the term you are trying to learn on the non-lined side of a 3in x 5in notecard. Remember to spell the word correctly and with appropriate accents.
I recommend using a marker or highlighter (not yellow) for this side. To level up, draw a picture of what the word means on this side as well.
Flip the card over, and use a pencil or pen to write the word’s definitions.
Do this for all words on your list.
Once complete, take one card and start by reading the definition side. What is the word that matches the definition? Write that word on a piece of paper.
Flip your card over and check your spelling.
If you misspelled your word, write it five times with the correct spelling.
Go back to the word’s definition. Now, write your word again. Did you get it right this time?
If you spelled it right, then grab another card and quiz yourself on it. If you miss it, repeat steps 6 and 7.
Then, quiz yourself on the cards you have learned thus far.
If you miss one of your already learned words, write it ten times before quizzing yourself again on all the cards you have learned thus far.
Continue to add cards until you are all the way through.
If your teacher requires you to know the definition by memory, then repeat this process but guess the definition instead of the word.
