Random, stupid videos?
How about if I told you there were some....random, stupid videos that were also "smart" that your teenager could watch that would help their SAT scores?
Does that interest you?
Then, as Bob the Tomato would say, "Have I got a show for you!!!"
Yes, this is a review....but, don't let that scare you away.....I know some of you are out there....Sherri....I am talking to you! ;)
It is for something called Vocab Videos.
I got to try a small educator account, so I could actually create accounts for all the kids.... I could be Ms. Duggar (because it is for up to 20 students). But, really this is only useful for my big kids right now. This subscription gave me access to:
The small educator subscription costs $74.99 for 12 months.
I would say that D-man and I find these videos the most entertaining because we know some of the words already.
A-girl is working through the video library and doesn't think they are nearly as funny as D-man and I, but most of the words are completely new to her, so I think there is a sense of being overwhelmed with new information for her.
Basically, you watch a video...(they have over 100 in their video library)....with the goal of teaching you over 500 vocabulary words. The hard kind. The ones that you will be tested on during the SAT.
The videos are broken down into small little scene-lets/episodes that are interrupted by a voice over narrator explaining the definition of a word....that was used or demonstrated in the video.
The videos are spoofs of pop culture references, T.V. Shows (The Office, Lost), horror movies, (I think Scream was one of them - I don't watch horror...but I had seen enough commercials to recognize that they were making fun of them), and spy/action films.
Each episode takes about 10 minutes to watch and includes 20 words. I know. They really pack them in there....which is where some of the funny stuff comes from....trying to figure out how to include the word "anachronistic" in a spy/action episode. Or the word "indigenous" into a stop action episode with a Ken doll, a stuffed crab, a white piggy bank, and one of those little pinchy koala bears that were all the rage in the 80's.
After you watch the video, there are crossword puzzles and questions to answer to help solidify your grasp of the vocabulary words.
There is also a workbook that you can get that goes along with the videos. It costs $11.99.
It might be something I invest in sometime in the future, but for now, I was happy with the crossword puzzles and quizzes that were included with the subscription.
Okay, you want to see some examples of the videos?
Here you go....
Or this....
See? Sort of stupid.....but smart, right?
Maybe quirky is a nicer word. I am not sure if the Vocab Videos people want it floating around the internet that their videos are stupid!
These videos are from a secular company, so there are a few references and phrases that I don't love....like Oh, my G...! and, a few words that I consider mild curse words. There are some really disrespectful attitudes displayed. But, to be honest, some of these things, they have already seen on Disney/Nickelodeon or ESPN sports shows that they watch.
I am taking the same approach with these videos as I do with their T.V. shows. I don't totally restrict what I let them watch.
When there is something that I feel is wrong or teaching them things I don't feel are okay...I hit the pause button....they roll their eyes....I tell them why I feel what they are seeing is wrong....or how we, as Christians, should handle it....they nod their heads at me....now that we live in the south, I even get a "yes ma'am" every now and then.....then, we resume watching.
The videos are entertaining and don't feel like school (well, A-girl thinks it sort of still feels like school) and are a great way to learn some new words that hopefully will help my kids all get stellar SAT scores. So, one day, they will get full ride scholarships to the fabulous college of their choice and Rainman and I will still get to take vacations and do other fun things like eat food everyday!
A single student subscription to Vocab Videos is $24.99 for 6 months or $39.99 for 12 months. Or, if you have more than one student that could benefit from this, you could try the small educator subscription for $74.99 for 12 months
Want to see what other members of the TOS Crew thought about Vocab Videos? I am sure this one had a lot of differing opinions.
Disclaimer: I received a one year subscription to Vocab Videos for free, in exchange for an honest review.
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