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Unlocking the Power of Dictionary Skills for Better Reading

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Dictionary skills are super helpful for becoming a better reader. One cool thing they do is help us break down big words into smaller parts, making them easier to understand. This also helps us figure out how the sounds in words fit together. Dictionaries also help us understand what words mean and how they're used. They're like a guidebook for words! This is important because it helps us get better at understanding and using words correctly. When we are reading, dictionary skills help us read smoothly and understand what we are reading faster. They also introduce us to new words and how to say them right. By learning how to use dictionaries, we're cracking a secret code made by word experts called lexicographers. They make sure dictionaries are accurate and full of useful information. So, when we use dictionaries, we are unlocking a treasure trove of knowledge about words. Overall, dictionary skills are like superpowers for reading. They help us understand words better, re

Unleashing Potential: Exploring Literacy Growth with the Dictionary

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In the world of literacy, growth is the heartbeat of progress. It is a tale of perseverance, dedication, and transformation. Today, I share a story of remarkable advancement over just seven weeks of focused instruction. This student a 9th grader embarked on a journey marked by notable strides. With a growth of 13 percentiles, nationally normed, and a leap from a grade equivalent score of 5 to 7, the magnitude of improvement was undeniable.  A 12-point increase in scores echoed a narrative of dedication and persistence, each point a testament to the hours invested over 14 hours of instruction. This progress was not just about numbers; it was about unlocking potential and building confidence. Capti Assessment : Word Recognition and Decoding In reflecting on this remarkable journey, it is essential to recognize the pivotal role of resources like the dictionary in fostering literacy growth. The act of consulting a dictionary is more than just looking up definitions; it is an exercise in cu

Triumph Through Dedication: A 9th Grader's Journey in Literacy

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In the field of education, progress is not solely about grades or test scores; it is about the journey of growth, perseverance, and overcoming challenges. One such inspiring story comes from a 9th grader who defied expectations with remarkable strides in literacy. At the outset, the challenge seemed daunting: improving literacy skills from a grade equivalent score of 3 to 9. But undeterred, the student embarked on a journey of learning and growth that would leave a lasting impression. In just 14 hours over 7 weeks, the student's dedication was evident. Starting with an assessment on January 12th, their percentile growth of 51 and score increase of 54 points by the posttest on March 12th spoke volumes about their effort. Capti Assessment : Word Recognition and Decoding Despite encountering distractions, the student persisted, recognizing that the initial posttest score of word recognition and decoding did not reflect their true abilities. With determination, the student requested to

Accelerating Language Proficiency in 7 Weeks: The Dictionary Effect

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In a mere seven weeks, a 12th grader experienced notable language growth, leveraging dictionaries as their secret weapon. Follow SEPO who organized this literacy program.  Let me provide a concise overview. Student Profile : Grade: 12th grade Instruction Time: 14 hours Approach : Utilized dictionaries for word recognition and decoding skills. Component Description Examples Vocabulary Expansion Discovering new words and their meanings. Using dictionaries for definitions and synonyms. Correct Usage Understanding word context and synonyms. Referring to dictionaries for proper usage. Pronunciation Improvement Mastering word pronunciation. Utilizing dictionaries for phonetic guides. Results : Witnessed a growth of 3 percentiles in language proficiency. Grade equivalent score increased from 3 to 5. Score went up by 8 points. Captivoice assessment (2024) What Does it Say About Dictionary Use? The success story of this 12th grader underscores the invaluable role of dictionaries in language lea

Cracking the Code: Dictionary Skills as the Key to Enhanced Literacy

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     This blog honors the legacy of Dr. Robert T. Nash, a trailblazer in language and literacy, renowned for his expertise in dictionary skills and lexicography. September 24, 1926 — May 21, 2017 Reading Hall of Fame inductee      Within the contexts of education, literacy is the foundation upon which proficient readers are nurtured. Evidence-Based Reading Practices (EBRP) and the Five Pillars of Reading  guide educators across academic levels. Yet, often overlooked in this pursuit is the potent tool of the dictionary.  At the core of literacy development lies the often-underestimated dictionary. It's not merely a book of definitions; it's a decoder of language complexities, aiding pronunciation accuracy, contextual meaning extraction, and even empowering independent learning. My personal journey from a struggling reader to a scholar with a PhD in Language and Literacy has intersected with the transformative impact of dictionary skills. I've observed a gap in recognizing t

Word Analysis Activities Prek-12 grade: Erudite

For the lower-level processors (i.e., orthographic & phonological), Moats (2020) asserts that “one can use phonic or dictionary symbols to transcribe the phonetic properties of words, but the disadvantage of such a phonic representation system is that many speech sounds must then be presented with letter combinations…” (pg. 32).   We will be analyzing the word  erudite  in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition pg. 425.  The phonetic transcription \ˈer-ə-ˌdīt, ˈer-yə-\.  Note: these variants are based on geographical location.    1st  sound  2nd sound  3rd sound  4th sound  5th sound  Silent E Phonemes /air/ /ə/     /ī/       Graphemes Er u d i t e These points address what we hear and see when using the dictionaries phonetic symbols (i.e., less than dark print or pronunciation): ·        The third most common way to spell the sound /air/ are with the letters er as in merry. Note there are nine different spelling patterns for this sound.  This unit is defined as v

Time Is of The Essence”: Why We Can’t Afford to Wait

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech “ The Other America ” 1967 symbolizes the harsh reality that plagued Black Americans before, during, and after the Civil Right era. Black Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression in all forms, even in 2023.  Source: CT3 2023 In his speech, King described the other America as the difference between what life was like for people from different social capital, classes, communities, and racial inequalities. One America is beautiful and overflows with the miracle of wealth for millions of young people who grow up in the sunlight of opportunity. The second America, as Dr. King explained, was (and is) a tragedy because of what it has done to children, especially those from underserved communities.  As a scholar-practitioner, I noticed how Black boys are being being portrayed in literature and media prevalent in our schools. For example,   after  researchers analyzed the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy intervention(s), they discovered th