Chapter 12: Word Learning Strategies

1
Chapter 12 Word-Learning Strategies

• Teaching Reading Sourcebook 2nd edition

2
Research on Word-Learning Strategies

• Word-learning strategies can help students to
  determine meanings of unfamiliar words
  independently and transfer the strategies to
  other words.
• Effective word-learning strategies include how to
• use dictionaries to confirm and deepen knowledge
  of word meanings
• use morphemic (word-part) analysis to derive
  meaning
• use contextual analysis to infer meanings of
  words in text.

3
When to Teach

• Morphemic analysis is appropriate for
• students beginning at fourth grade. Instruction
  in compound words, word families, and simple
  affixes begins by second grade.
• Vocabulary can be acquired through use of context
  clues in reading and listening. Beginning in
  Kindergarten, teachers can model the use of
  context clues when reading aloud.
• By grades 2 and 3, students begin learning to use
  context clues independently.
• Middle grade students (grades 4-8) may begin
  using a combination of morphemic and contextual
  analysis.

4
When to Assess and Intervene

• Assessment that is tied to the instruction will
  provide better information about students
  specific learning of word learning strategies.
• The multiple-choice format of most standardized
  tests can also provide a more global measure of
  vocabulary.
• What is central to word-learning strategy
  assessment is a process such as thinking aloud or
  self-evaluation, that reveals the students
  metacognitive thinking.

5
Dictionary Use

• Mechanics of using a dictionary
• finding an entry alphabetically
• using guide words
• separating words into syllables
• using pronunciation keys
• Translating dictionary definitions into word
  knowledge
• finding the appropriate definition to fit the
  context
• confirming and deepening knowledge of a word

6
Morphemic Awareness

• Key instructional elements in morphemic analysis
  include
• Root words and word families teaching root word
  and its derived forms
• Compound words contain two free morphemes that
  stand alone as two word parts
• Greek and Latin Roots bound morphemes that
  cannot stand alone as words in English
• Cognate Awareness words in two languages that
  share a similar spelling, pronunciation and
  meaning.

7
Contextual Analysis

• Types of helpful context clues in text
• Definition direct definition within the
  sentence.
• Appositive a word or phrase that defines or
  explains a word that precedes it.
• Synonym a word or phrase that is similar in
  meaning.
• Antonym words that mean the opposite or in
  contrast.
• Example several words or ideas as examples
  General non-specific clues to meaning
• Types of unhelpful context clues in text
• Misdirective direct reader to incorrect meaning
• Nondirective do not direct reader to any
  particular meaning of the word