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to Fun with New Words
The essential elements of reading
include:
· fluency
(the ability to read text quickly, accurately, and with expression),
· phonics
(the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences and their use to read and
spell words),
· phonemic
awareness (the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds
in spoken words)
· comprehension
(the use of complex processes and strategies to construct, evaluate, and
respond to meaning conveyed in one or more texts),
· vocabulary
(the addition of new words to a child’s store of word meanings).
We work on fluency, phonics, phonemic
awareness, and comprehension every day during Fundations and Readers Workshop.
We also introduce new vocabulary through the exceptional literature we
read. We are also fortunate to have a wonderful vocabulary series to help with
this important element of reading!
Every Monday we begin a week of
vocabulary lessons based on terrific read-alouds that use the week’s list of
vocabulary words. Providing direct instruction in vocabulary after a
read-aloud provides a strong context from which we can introduce word
meaning. The chosen words bring action and description to language. We try to
personalize the vocabulary by relating our own experiences to the vocabulary
words. We make sure to have frequent encounters with the words throughout the
week to make sure the new words become part of our accessible vocabulary.
Classroom Vocabulary Display
Already we are noticing students using
the new vocabulary in place of everyday words. For example ridiculous instead
of silly, chuckle instead of giggle, astonished instead of shocked. Some
students are even making the transition from oral vocabulary to written
vocabulary and are using the words in their writing.
We hope you’ll take this “vocabulary
voyage” with us and have fun with new words!
Here are this week's
vocabulary words:
certain: If you are
certain about something, you strongly believe that it is true.
disguise: A disguise is
something you wear to make you look like someone or something else.
quiver: To quiver means
to shake a tiny bit.
scrumptious: Something
scrumptious is so delicious that you don't want to stop eating it.
outsmart: When you
outsmart someone, you trick them or beat them by doing something clever.
convince: If you
convince someone, you talk them into believing something or doing something.
For ideas on how you can help your
child get extra practice at home with these words, please read our latest
edition of Romero's Reels or visit our class
newsletter page on this website!
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