Q: I've noticed that my son, Garth, a rising third-grader, doesn't have a vocabulary as large as some of the same-age kids he's playing with this summer. Should I get some flash cards?

A: No. There are better ways to help a child develop a stronger vocabulary than rote learning of random word lists, says Tim Rasinski, a Kent State professor of literacy education. Any such learning is often quickly forgotten because the words usually don't connect to what the child knows or is interested in. So nix the flash cards -- ditto for writing words multiple times, copying definitions or filling in worksheets.

To expand Garth's vocabulary, help him "own" the words he loves and add those he wants to know. Find them in a book he enjoys or in topics he's passionate about.

For example, if he's a "Star Wars" fan, he probably has heard the following words, but he may not know them when reading: galaxy, armored, transmissions, intercepted, smashed, reactor. So when he encounters these in "Star Wars" books, have him focus on learning two or three at a time. Have him add the words to a vocabulary notebook under a "Star Wars Words" tab, writing each new word in his notebook, adding a short definition and drawing a picture as a visual reminder. Do this with other topics he's keen on. He's more likely to learn new words this way because they are meaningful to him.

Rasinski reminds us that just because a word is in a notebook, it doesn't mean it's in the brain: "Kids need multiple opportunities to see, write and use new words."

So add them to conversations and Post-it notes ("Garth, I intercepted a dirty sock in the hallway!"). Encourage him to write stories with these new words. Garth will own a galactic batch of words in no time.

This next suggestion may surprise you. In the Summer 2012 issue of Educational Leadership, Rasinski and co-authors Nancy Padak, Karen Bromley and Evangeline Newton make the case that primary-grade children benefit from being clued into Latin and Greek roots. So, for instance, by teaching Garth that the prefix bi means "two" (bicycle), tri means "three" (tricycle) or sub means "under" or "below" (submarine), you can give him a leg up. The authors' article, "Vocabulary: Five Common Misconceptions," concludes with a starter list of Greek and Latin roots. Find it at ascd.org.

Research shows that games are a wonderful way to inspire interest in words and develop knowledge about them, says Rasinski. Many folks learned new words at the kitchen table with Balderdash, Boggle, Buzzword, Pictionary and Scrabble. Kids still get a kick out of these games. Add them to your family's fun and everybody gets a chance to boost their word power.

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: My daughter, Charisse, just competed in a girls' rodeo event. In addition to riding skills, contestants were given a citizenship quiz and she failed. She didn't even know the vice president! I was shocked. If schools don't teach citizenship, how can I bridge the gap?

A: Earlier this summer, some Miss USA contestants visiting a TV show couldn't name Vice President Joe Biden, nor describe the color of the waves of grain in "America the Beautiful."

But young people aren't the nation's only civics slackers. A recent survey by Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream found that one in three native-born citizens failed the civics portion of the naturalization test, in stark contrast to the 97.5 percent of immigrants applying for citizenship who passed it.

Native-born citizens do especially poorly on questions about the U.S. Constitution and the governmental, legal and political structure of American democracy -- principles that underlie our civic life. For example, 85 percent don't know the meaning of "the rule of law." (Take a sample test with Charisse at csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0104/Could-you-pass-a-US-citizenship-test.)

To beef up Charisse's civics savvy, use the upcoming election to get her engaged, suggests California educator Bill Laraway.

"CNN, Scholastic, TIME For Kids all have election news tailored to young people on their sites," says Laraway. "Check out C-Span's 'Road to the White House' for human-interest stories. NPR and USA Today have apps she might enjoy. The ironic humor on 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report' appeals to teens and will fire up their critical thinking.

"Watch the news together and have dinner-table discussions on topics she can relate to, such as how much folks should pay in taxes, whether college students' health insurance should be covered on their parents' plan.

"Take her to meet local candidates on the ballot in your area. Volunteer together in a campaign. The best way to raise a citizen is to model citizenship."

North Carolina educator and newly sworn-in U.S. citizen Lisa Malaquin-Prey suggests getting a copy of E.D. Hirsch Jr.'s book, "What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know, Revised Edition" (Delta, 2005).

"Many of the questions on the test for immigrants wishing to become citizens can be found in it," says Malaquin-Prey. "Dr. Hirsch's Core Knowledge curriculum is increasingly popular in schools because it teaches the principles of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, starting in kindergarten." (Go to coreknowledge.org to learn more and locate schools that use the curriculum in your area.)

Parents shouldn't rely on schools alone to develop civic literacy.

"There's a tendency to treat civics and history as 'nice to know,' but it really is essential," says educator Robert Pondiscio, author of the Core Knowledge Blog (blog.coreknowledge.org). "Citizenship was the founding principle of public education. Civic participation is closely linked with educational achievement. The higher your education level, the more likely you are to vote.

"Education and civics are cornerstones of both schooling and our democracy."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: My son's second-grade teacher said he should "read all summer," so he doesn't forget his new skills. How much time does she mean? Also, I read each day to my 1-year-old daughter, but she often won't sit still to finish the book. Reading is so important and I want both of them to become good readers.

A: Chances are excellent that your children will become lifelong readers if you create a home environment where reading is exciting and a source of pleasure, not pressure. What does that home look like?

"It's a place where kids see their parents reading and enjoying it," says reading expert Keith Garton. "It's a place where children are read to regularly. It's a home rich in literature -- with books, magazines, newspapers and digital devices that offer up a range of reading for the adults and children in residence. It's a home where parents monitor TV time, plan weekly trips to the library and snap up children's books at garage sales. It's a home where writing is encouraged -- with plenty of paper to scribble on."

This summer, encourage your son to spend 15 to 30 minutes each day reading about topics he's interested in.

"This can mean reading to and with him, as well as having him read independently," says Garton, founder of children's book publisher Red Chair Press.

"Most local libraries have summer reading programs designed to keep kids' skill levels strong," he says. "Check out an armful of books so he'll have choices. Get another armful on the next trip. Enroll him in any summer sessions at the library. Include e-books, comic books, magazines -- whatever engages him."

Help him make connections with his reading. For example, if you're taking a trip to a zoo, read an issue of Zoobooks magazine (zoobooks.com) or the Dr. Seuss classic "If I Ran the Zoo." Go to the zoo's website and read the latest news.

"By connecting his reading with daily life, you teach your son the utility and pleasure of reading," says Garton.

Don't worry if your daughter won't sit still for reading. Just take cues from her. If she's wiggly, set aside the picture book for a time when she's less distracted, such as right before she takes a nap or goes to bed. The act of reading a little every day is what is important, notes Garton.

Your son might find it fun to read some simple picture books to his younger sister.

"Find books at his reading level with a lot of color in the illustrations or strong, bold images," Garton suggests. "Show him how to read with expression; point to the illustrations and ask questions while reading. This will help engage her in the story and stay focused. E-books are a great way to do this, since many e-books include interactivity with characters that move or make sounds and highlighted text to help her follow along."

Nothing helps a young reader grow like reading aloud to an appreciative audience!

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)