Dense subject reading becomes much harder when several essential terms are unfamiliar. A focused preview gives a young person the words needed to follow the ideas without going over the whole lesson in advance.

Coordinate with school

Ask for three to five terms before a new topic or demanding text. Many secondary schools share a ‘knowledge organiser’ for each topic, a one-page sheet of key words and facts, which is a good place to start. Across several short sessions:

1. Practise the pronunciation.

2. Agree a short meaning, using the subject notes or glossary.

3. Connect the word with an example, image or diagram.

4. Link useful roots or related words.

5. Use the term in a short subject sentence.

6. Return to it when the topic begins.

For photosynthesis, connect photo with light, use a plant diagram and explain how the term relates to the process being studied.

Keep the support age-respectful and directly connected to current subjects. BBC Bitesize has free guides and short videos for most secondary subjects, where you can often find a clear meaning or example. The young person can help decide which terms remain unclear.

Avoid long copied glossaries. Knowing a definition is not enough; the young person needs to recognise how the word is used in the text and subject.

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