Not Too Scary Vocabulary: For the SAT & Other Standardized Tests [With 36 Page Booklet] [Audio CD]

Renee E. Mazer (Author, Performer)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9-12-Studying for the Verbal SAT seems daunting to most students because they have no clear idea how to remember the words and definitions, can't even pronounce some of the words, and don't know how to use them in sentences. Focusing on vocabulary words that may appear on the standardized test, the booklet of words and definitions and the cassettes work concurrently to provide the word, pronunciation, a definition, a sentence using the word, and a way to remember it. Original poems or silly songs sung by the instructor/narrator, Renee Mazer (a SAT tutor for 15 years), are provided not only for comic relief but to assist listeners in remembering what makes the vocabulary word unique. Over 700 words are provided to improve comprehension and vocabulary. The last cassette tests students' memorization ability by providing a not-too-serious quiz. The test prep is never boring because the examples used are often humorous and related to young adult concerns such as dating. The booklet, illustrated by Joshua Caso, features lighthearted and comical drawings that are instructional and include captions that highlight vocabulary words. Students will enjoy the tapes because Mazer makes learning the vocabulary words into a game. These test prep tapes are a useful way to introduce students to more difficult words and strengthen their language skills. A good addition for secondary media centers and public libraries.

Mercedes Smith, Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville, FL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: High Score (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966484525
• ISBN-13: 978-0966484526
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 6.2 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #270,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WAY TOO SCARY VOCABULARY, July 29, 2006

By	Leanne Rose - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Not Too Scary Vocabulary: For the SAT & Other Standardized Tests [With 36 Page Booklet] (Audio CD)

SAT Vocabulary study on audio CD's! We can listen in the car! What a find! The packaging for "Not Too Scary Vocabulary (for the New SAT & Other Standardized Tests And Success in Life)" proclaims, "Outrageously Wild and Funny with Wacky Songs and Poems!" Also on the packaging, "Award Winning" - "Hilarious, Brilliant and Super Effective" - "The Way to Laugh your Way to Verbal Victory on SAT Day". Sounds great for those of us with children preparing for the PSAT/SAT tests who spend a lot of time in our cars! Also included is a positive review from "a mother of four ages 8-18" that includes "The whole family is laughing and learning". I happily plopped down the purchase price and popped the first CD in the car stereo. Imagine my chagrin when Creator/Performer Renee Mazer taught the very first word (abashed) with a poem that included "...would you be abashed, if your private parts got flashed, when your fly was unzipped, while your underwear was ripped?..." Well, my fifteen year old son was a little embarrassed, and I thought the poem was a little more tasteless than hilarious - but we continued on. On the third word (acrimonious) we were treated to the following: "...Their divorce was acrimonious so she took nude pictures of her flabby ex-husband and emailed them to everyone at his office. That would be a fun thing to do if you were going through an acrimonious divorce". Well, the alarm bells begin to sound but surely it couldn't get worse! Before leaving the A's we suffered through "artful" which Ms. Mazer teaches with a true story and poem about offering to date her college T.A. in exchange for an A, and "augment" which is taught with the concept of breast augmentation and a poem about a fictitious daughter posing nude for a magazine. We actually continued to listen until I discovered that she intended to use the word "condom" to teach "condone". That was the end of the road for my son! I emailed Renee Mazer with my concerns as she requests in a companion booklet in which she asks for "any comments about these CD's". Her response was that she feels the words outrageously wild on the packaging "state up front what the content was going to be like". She also states that "the product has gotten editor's choice awards from parenting/kids magazines, a review from a major media outlet calling it `g rated,' and countless fan mail from parents of young kids. It is also being used in public middle and high schools. Nothing in it is more risqué than what is on prime time TV, the radio and the covers of magazines that you see while checking out of a grocery store." No mother whom I know personally would want her teens to listen to this trash! In order to be fair to Ms. Mazer, I decided to listen to the entire 7 CD set (alone) and found it far more offensive than I had imagined! This product should come with a parental caution label, or, at the minimum, the words irreverent, racy or risqué on the packaging. Ms. Mazer uses those words to describe her product on her website and I would not have purchased it if I had found any of them on the box!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh dear, where to begin..., May 18, 2007

By	J.D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Too Scary Vocabulary: For the SAT & Other Standardized Tests [With 36 Page Booklet] (Audio CD)

This is one of the most bizarre teaching sets for learning vocabulary I have ever seen -- or heard I should say. You have to have the right kind of personality for this. It's lewd, somewhat crude, but does work for the right individual. Auditory learners would benefit best from this set, but I suppose others might get something out of it.

Parents beware! The set has it's moments; however, it's nothing too outrageous for the typical teenager. If you want them to know their vocab., this might work for them. This is a nice starter for the resistant teen who doesn't like to read. Cartoon Vocabulary (volumes 1 and 2) are also fun.

Learning vocabulary for the SAT, GMAT, etc., is not one stop shopping. People assume there is just one book. There isn't. To perform well, you must study from a variety of sources -- unless you are naturally inclined to do well on standardized sets. And if that were the case, you wouldn't be buying this set.

If you want to become a master of standardized vocabulary tests, purchase the Wordsmart Interactive CD set. Volumes A-J will rocket you towards the PHD level. It teaches you decoding techniques, Latin roots, Greek roots, tons and tons of words, etc. It's a very powerful set if you're motivated to do it. They are very pricey. However, if you want to go Ivy League, the set will help you do it.

Overall, learning vocabulary is a process. You must learn it from a variety of sources, not just one.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Gutter trash., December 28, 2005

By	Gregory M. Dance "Greg Dance" (MO, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Not Too Scary Vocabulary: For the SAT & Other Standardized Tests [With 36 Page Booklet] (Audio CD)

Well, this would certainly expand your vocabulary.

Normally, one would associate the idea of increasing your vocabulary with lifting yourself to a higher level and communication on a level that is a bit more dignified.

If never want to associate with successful people of the world but you want to know what they are taking about then this is probably a CD for you. Or if you are in high school with run away hormones and want to impress your friends in the bathroom go for it.

In the first few minutes you'll learn about the word abash by association with phrases like "if your fly is open and people can see your private parts." After that you'll have other examples to help you learn words where the examples are things like a woman "posting nude photos of her over weight husband on the internet."

That's all in the first 5 minutes.

The slang that is used in all the examples just further supports the idea that the CD's are for someone who's vocabularly is "like totally cool."

Buy a dictionary.