Vocabulary Virtuoso

Vocabulary Virtuoso is a notable creation by the Critical Thinking Company, known for its dedication to enhancing students' educational outcomes by fostering critical thinking skills. The program was meticulously crafted by Nancy Forderer, whose expertise in education and passion for language arts culminated in a series of vocabulary books aimed at students from elementary to high school levels. The inception of Vocabulary Virtuoso was driven by a clear mission: to prepare students for higher academic challenges like the PSAT and SAT, while simultaneously enriching their daily vocabulary. The program has garnered attention not only for its educational value but also for its successful reach across various grade levels and its ability to blend rigorous vocabulary instruction with critical thinking exercises​ (Critical Thinking Co.)​​ (Critical Thinking Co.)​.

Differentiation: What Makes It Special Vocabulary Virtuoso sets itself apart through its structured yet engaging approach to vocabulary learning. What makes this curriculum unique is its integration of vocabulary with other elements of language arts, such as idioms, synonyms, and phrases, all embedded within captivating stories and contexts that relate directly to the students' experiences and age. Each book in the series is tailored to specific educational stages, ensuring relevancy and appropriate challenges for each grade level. This customization makes it particularly effective not only for home use but also in traditional and independent study settings, making it a versatile tool in any educational arsenal​ (Homeschool Planet)​​ (Captivating Compass)​.

How to Get Started To begin using Vocabulary Virtuoso, you can purchase the books directly from the Critical Thinking Company’s website or through various educational retailers online. Each book is available in both paperback and eBook formats, catering to different preferences for learning mediums. The starting process is straightforward, with no prior setup required, making it an "open and go" program ideal for busy homeschooling families​ (Critical Thinking Co.)​.

How It Works Vocabulary Virtuoso is incredibly user-friendly. It requires minimal daily time commitment, with activities designed to be concise yet impactful, typically requiring about 10-15 minutes per session. The curriculum can be used independently by students, making it suitable for those who prefer self-directed learning. Activities vary from fill-in-the-blanks, word scrambles, to contextual exercises, all of which are aimed at reinforcing the vocabulary in dynamic real-world contexts. The program's flexibility also allows it to be seamlessly integrated into a broader educational schedule without overwhelming students​ (Captivating Compass)​​ (Modulo)​.

What Educational Concepts It Teaches

  • Critical reading and writing skills

  • Contextual usage of vocabulary

  • Language arts concepts such as alliteration, idioms, and journalistic writing

  • Spelling and grammar through engaging exercises

  • Recognition of words in various forms and usages

What’s Good About It Users often praise Vocabulary Virtuoso for its comprehensive approach to vocabulary building that goes beyond mere memorization. The inclusion of stories and real-life applications enhances retention and understanding. Parents appreciate the curriculum's ability to engage students through varied exercises that not only teach but also entertain, thereby maintaining a high level of interest and participation from the students​ (home | school | life)​​ (Captivating Compass)​.

What Could Be Improved While Vocabulary Virtuoso is well-received, some feedback suggests that the inclusion of more diverse and complex texts could enhance the program. Additionally, expanding the exercises to include more interactive and digital components could appeal to students accustomed to online learning environments. Some parents have noted that the story completion activities are occasionally hit or miss, depending on the student's interest level in the subjects presented​ (Captivating Compass)​.

Advice from Parents To maximize the benefits of Vocabulary Virtuoso, parents recommend integrating the vocabulary lessons with daily reading practices and encouraging students to use new words in their speech and writing. Regular reviews of the material to reinforce learning and spaced repetition of the vocabulary words are also suggested to ensure mastery and retention of the material​ (Captivating Compass)​.

Who It’s An Ideal Fit For Vocabulary Virtuoso is ideal for students who are self-motivated and enjoy learning through reading and writing. It suits those preparing for standardized tests and those who have a keen interest in enriching their language skills. It’s also a great fit for families looking for a structured yet flexible vocabulary program that can be tailored to fit into various educational plans​ (Captivating Compass)​.

Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For This program may not be suitable for students who prefer highly interactive or multimedia-based learning experiences. It may also be less engaging for younger students who might find the text-heavy format challenging​ (Captivating Compass)​.

Grades: 2-12

Cost: $17 per book

Ways to Get It Vocabulary Virtuoso can be purchased directly from the Critical Thinking Company’s website or various online educational suppliers. Both paperback and eBook formats are available, providing flexibility based on personal or educational needs​ (Critical Thinking Co.)​.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on our site are affiliate links, which means Modulo may earn a small commission if you purchase through them (at no cost to you). Rest assured, we only recommend resources we’ve rigorously vetted and truly love—affiliate link or not. Thank you so much for supporting our work!

Explore More Vocabulary Programs and Curriculum We Recommend

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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