How the Internet Can Help Kids Build Their Vocabulary

Editor's Note: Updated May 26, 2011

I like words. I do a lot of writing and public speaking, so this makes sense. Do you like words? Do you wish your students liked words more? I thought it might be helpful to share some of my favorite word-centric, Web-based resources, and see what other folks can share back.All of these sites help increase one's control over words, and hey, words are power, right?

Now if this was October, we could be celebrating Noah Webster's birthday, but let's just have some fun with words just because. Take a look at these, and be sure to share your favorites with all of us:

• Visuwords.com is a free online graphical dictionary that can help kids see the complexity of language.
• SpellingCity.com offers a simple and free tool for helping elementary kids practice and self-test themselves on spelling words.
• Vocabulary.co.il specializes in games around words and idioms.
• Freerice.com rolls philanthropy and SAT preparation into one!
• Merriam-Webster.com includes pronunciation and a thesaurus too.
• Thatquiz.org is primarily a mathematics quiz site, but also features vocabulary-building quizzes, with some SAT preparation.
• Vocabulary.com offers free word puzzles and activities.

So, there are some places to begin, but this is not the final word by a long shot. What are your favorites?