Vocabulary Virtuoso is a vocabulary workbook with a twist. I will explain the twist a bit later. The workbook contains 15 vocabulary lessons each containing 10 words. The student will learn definitions, common word forms, and word pronunciations. A variety of activities are utilized to aid students in being able to familiarize themselves with the words to use them in daily life. This book is targeted for students in grades 4-5. The workbook is 176 pages and retails for $16.99.

What makes this vocabulary workbook different from other vocabulary workbooks? The Critical Thinking Co. wants to extend the students learning beyond just learning the meaning of words. Their goal is to empower the mind. For example, the stories used in the lessons teach things such as: how to compose a literary essay, the scientific method, legends and folktales, branches of government, how to form a hypothesis, and various historical facts. The stories go beyond just utilizing academic topics; they also instill values such as honesty, kindness, and community.

Each lesson begins with a word list. The words include the common definition, the part of speech, pronunciations, and common word forms. Next, the students use the vocabulary words to fill in the blanks to compete sentences. The student will then complete a story challenge in which they will read a story and insert the vocabulary words into blanks throughout the story. This gives the students the ability to use the words in greater everyday context. In the next section the student will read a sentence with an underlined word. The underlined word is a synonym, idiom, phrase, or definition of a list word. The next exercise further engages the students reasoning skills by using words, idioms, or phrases to define words from the list. Finally, the student is asked to use the lessons vocabulary words in complete sentences to ensure that the student has grasped the full meaning of the words from the lesson.

My 5^th grader has been working through this workbook. She is really enjoying the style and method used to teach the vocabulary words. My daughter is an avid reader and this workbook is the perfect fit to challenge her beyond the normal vocabulary workbooks on the market. Many times, my daughter will come to me and share new things that she has learned from the lessons beyond just new words that she is learning. In one of the lessons my daughter came to me and said, “Mom, you know the book, The Island of the Blue Dolphins that I read last year. Well, it is a historical fiction book that is based on actual historical events. Did you know that? And mom, did you know that The Little Mermaid was originally a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale?”

This workbook would be a perfect fit for a classroom setting or homeschool setting. I would highly recommend this workbook to other educators and homeschoolers. Vocabulary Virtuoso requires students to use their critical thinking skills. The definition of virtuoso is a person who is an expert or prodigy. This workbook definitely excels at making your child a budding, academic virtuoso.

-Product review by Jennifer Ladewig, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, April, 2017