Vocabulary Spelling presents thirtytwo lessons that cover a broad range of topics from etymology to context clues to spelling patterns. It is essential that vocabulary instructions include a variety of strategies to develop students wordstudy skills. Lessons in Vocabulary Spelling provide many different ways of exploring and studying words, word parts, semantic families, and spelling patterns and rules. Activating students prior knowledge of words and of essential concepts related to words helps students make associations between new terms and words they already know. The activities in Vocabulary Spelling will help teachers to actively engage students in working with words. As their curiosity about word exploration grows, students will become increasingly confident in their ability to attack, learn, and experiment with new words. Each lesson in Vocabulary Spelling includes the following components: A Word of the Week highlights a word that students may find particularly meaningful or interesting. Just For Fun activities encourage students to play with words, reminding them that language can be fun and interesting. Tip boxes in the margin throughout the lesson clarify definitions, offer additional information, and give helpful suggestions. A Time Out for Test Practice at the end of each unit provides students with the opportunity to assess what they have learned and to practice testtaking skills by answering sample standardized test questions in a multiplechoice format.
Word Study Notebook
Maintaining a word study notebook is an effective method for recording new vocabulary, including their definitions, spellings, prefixes, suffixes, and roots This resource can also help you document words that you find challenging to spell, enhancing your overall language skills.
You may even want to set part of your notebook aside for vocabulary play in your own writing.
When you record a new word in your notebook, include its definition, pronunciation, and origins, along with an example sentence or drawing to help you remember it.
Here is a sample page from a word study notebook.
As you learn more and more words, you will also become a better speaker and a better writer, able to express yourself more easily and vividly.
Word: miasma (pl miasmas or miasmata) Pronunciation: \m8 az> m@\
Origins: New Latin, from Greek word miainein, “to pollute”
Definition: Unhealthy, polluting vapor or fogSentence: The miasma of tobacco smoke in that coffee shop makes me ill.
To enhance your vocabulary, explore a magazine or newspaper and identify an unfamiliar word Create a word study notebook entry for this word, noting its definition and pronunciation by consulting a dictionary Focus on the definition that aligns with the context in which the word was originally used, rather than documenting every possible meaning.
Who or what is a doomster? What does it mean to commit verbicide?
Exploring unique and quirky words can be an enjoyable experience, as it enhances your vocabulary and understanding of language Consider adding entries for intriguing terms such as "doomster," which refers to someone who predicts doom, "verbicide," the act of killing a word's meaning, "geophagy," the practice of eating earth or soil, "izzard," a rare term for a type of lizard, and "stygian," which describes something dark and gloomy Delving into these unusual words can enrich your word study notebook and provide insight into the richness of the English language.
To effectively utilize your word study notebook, begin by organizing it into distinct sections Consider creating a section for new vocabulary, another for common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, a separate area for challenging spellings, and an additional section for fun words and interesting word facts This structured approach will enhance your learning experience and make it easier to reference important language elements.
Here’s one item to get you started on the “Fun
Word Facts” section of your word study notebook:
One of the longest place names in the world is probably that of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll- gogerychwyrndrobwyll- llantysiliogogogoch, a town in northern Wales It is called Llanfair or Llanfair PG for short.
Every week, review the entries in your word study notebook Try to incorporate these words into your speech and writing.
3 © EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling LEVEL V, UNIT 1 inquiry (in kwir> @) n., investigation into a matter of public interest
He launched the inquiry because he believed the senator was lying
The word inquiry stems from the Latin word quaerere, which means
“seek.” Other words that share this Latin base include inquire, inquest, question, and inquisitive.
Word Study Skills
Encountering unfamiliar words while reading is common, and while it may be tempting to overlook them, doing so can lead to missing important information in the text.
You will better understand and enjoy what you read if you follow these simple strategies for decoding unfamiliar words.
When faced with an unfamiliar word, you can deduce its meaning by examining the surrounding context For instance, in the sentence, "It was a good replica because it was almost identical to the original painting," the context provides clarity on the term "replica."
You may not know what replica means, but from the clues in the surrounding text, you can probably guess that a replica is a copy or imitation of something else.
Incorporate visual elements such as pictures, diagrams, charts, and sidebars to enhance the understanding of concepts presented in the text, as these features can effectively clarify unfamiliar terms.
Healthy joints facilitate rotational movements around an axis, which include supination, pronation, eversion, and inversion Supination enables the palm of the hand to face upward, while pronation allows it to face downward.
Look for Familiar Word Parts
When encountering an unfamiliar word, look for familiar prefixes, suffixes, or roots that can hint at its meaning For instance, knowing that "kilo" is Latin for "one thousand" can help you understand related terms like kilowatt, kilometer, and kilogram.
Text support is commonly found in magazine and newspaper articles and is especially necessary in educational material, such as textbooks
Text support includes pictures, diagrams, charts, captions, section headings, and sidebars A sidebar is a short text piece that is found alongside the main story
When encountering an unfamiliar word, consulting a dictionary is often the quickest method to uncover its meaning It's important to remember that many words possess multiple definitions, so it's beneficial to use additional strategies alongside this approach to determine the correct interpretation.
The company had invested heavily in emergent technologies
The dictionary offers several possible definitions for the word emergent:
1 arising unexpectedly; calling for prompt attention
2 rising out of or as if out of a fluid
3 arising as a natural or logical consequence
In this context, you need to choose the most suitable option from four possibilities, with the fourth definition being the most applicable.
Use context clues to estimate the meaning of the underlined word.
The county fair was incredibly prosaic, so we spent our time trying to find something that would entertain us or seem even the least bit exciting
1 What do you think prosaic means?
2 What information in the passage helped you guess the meaning of the word?
In your notebook, explain how the illustrations in Figure 23.10 help you to understand the meanings of unfamiliar terms.
Utilize your understanding of word components to define the following terms in your notebook For reference, you can consult page 1041 of your student textbook, which provides examples of common word parts.
Read the following sentences Look up each underlined word in the dictionary and write down the definition that best fits the way the word is used in the sentence.
1 He brought a relic back from his travels.
2 Sasha didn’t want to rifle through her sister’s suitcase.
3 Hanna was going out to cull the flock
A prefix is a word part found at the beginning of a word; a suffix is found at the end
Prefixes and suffixes enhance the meaning of a base word or root A word root is the fundamental part of a word that carries its core meaning, distinct from any prefixes or suffixes attached to it.
To enhance understanding of specific words, consult a dictionary for definitions and then create an illustrative drawing for each term The words include "saber," a type of sword; "box kite," a stable, flat kite design; "narwhal," a marine mammal known for its long tusk; "piccolo," a small woodwind instrument; "coping saw," a tool for intricate cutting; and "ankh," an ancient Egyptian symbol representing life.
5 © EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling LEVEL V, UNIT 1 callously (ka> l@s l7) adv., insensitively; uncaringly
She handled the situation rather callously, so I don’t know if I can forgive her
The word callously comes from the Latin word callosus, meaning
“thick-skinned,” or callum, meaning “hard skin.” One can literally have a callus on his or her hands from working too hard, but figuratively, the word callous means “unfeeling.”
PAVE
PAVE is an effective method for remembering the meanings of new words, standing for Predict, Associate, Verify, and Evaluate To use this technique, start by copying the sentence containing the unfamiliar word Then, proceed through each step to deepen your understanding and retention of the word.
Predict Try to predict the word’s meaning based on the context and on your prior knowledge of the word or its parts Write down your prediction.
Associate Write a sentence of your own using the word Associating the word with a sentence will help you remember the meaning of the word.
To ensure clarity, verify the meaning of a word by consulting a dictionary or asking your teacher Keep in mind that a dictionary may provide several definitions for a single term, so it’s important to choose and note the most relevant definition.
Evaluate Finally, evaluate the sentence you wrote using the word
Does it do a good job of capturing the meaning of the word?
Rewrite the sentence if necessary If you wish, draw an image that will help you remember the word.
Use PAVE to learn the underlined words in the sentences below
1 The sea air was redolent of salt and dead fish.
Flip through a dictionary and find a word you’ve never seen before
Understanding the concept is crucial before crafting your paragraph Incorporate the word "hidden" seamlessly within your text Once completed, share your paragraph with a partner, who will then attempt to identify the specific word you included This exercise not only enhances your writing skills but also fosters collaboration and engagement.
“hiding,” and secondly, use PAVE to figure out the meaning of the word.
2 Subatomic physics is beyond the ken of the average person—it is just not a subject most people know anything about.
3 Bob did not have time to collect his thoughts, so his acceptance speech was rather desultory
4 Punk rockers attempted to subvert mainstream rock-and-roll music, which they believed had become cheesy and overly commercial.
5 Foreign policy was not the president’s forte, but she relied on her ambassadors and other experienced advisors to help compensate for her weak point
Use context clues to predict the meaning of an unfamiliar word Context clues are words and phrases in the surrounding text that hint at the meaning of a word
Comparison clues help show the meaning of a word or idea by restating it in a different way or by giving examples Question
Contrast clues help show the meaning of a word through giving its opposite, or antonym Contrast clues may use words such as but, however, although, or yet Question
You do not need to stop reading every time you run across an unfamiliar word
Usually, you can still get the gist of the passage and continue on.
To enhance your vocabulary, utilize PAVE to learn a new word and incorporate it into your daily conversations for three consecutive days While your friends may react with surprise, this practice will boost your confidence in using the word and deepen your understanding of its meaning.
7 © EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling LEVEL V, UNIT 1 eccentric (ik sen> trik) adj., odd or unusual in behavior or appearance
Everyone knew Mrs Garish because of her wacky house and eccentric clothes
The word eccentric comes from the Greek ex, meaning “out of,” and kentron, meaning “center.”
Synonyms include the words quirky, oddball, and bizarre
Antonyms include conformist, traditionalist, and dull.
Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses
For effective word study, the dictionary and thesaurus are essential resources Various types of dictionaries and thesauruses can be located in the reference section of your local library.
Standard dictionaries of English provide the spelling, pronunciation, definitions, and other information about most words you will encounter in your reading and listening
To explore the origins of specific words, one should utilize a dictionary to investigate their etymology This process involves tracing the historical roots of each word, which includes defining any abbreviations encountered Additionally, it is important to note the time period when each word was incorporated into the English language.
Dictionaries provide essential information on word usage, including labels that indicate whether a term is slang, dialect-specific, archaic, or obsolete For instance, a word marked as slang is typically used in informal contexts, while an archaic label signifies that a term is no longer commonly used Additionally, if a word has fallen out of use entirely, it is labeled as obsolete Examples include "dorky," an adjective from 1983 meaning foolishly stupid, and "telly," a noun from 1939, primarily used in British dialect.
Brit : television dowsabel n [Dowsabel, fem name] (ca 1652) obs : sweetheart
Certain words, like "ain't," are classified as nonstandard, indicating they are viewed as incorrect in formal English When a word's usage is debated, it often comes with a detailed usage note for clarification.
Read the notes at the front of your dictionary for explanations of the different symbols, abbreviations, and usage labels.
Words often have fascinating and unusual origins Explore a dictionary of word origins, either at your local library or online, to discover intriguing entries Select five words that catch your interest and document their etymology in your word study notebook.
Find a standard dictionary and use it to complete the following scavenger hunt Be prepared to share your answers with the class.
1 Find a word that has more than one entry How many entries are given for this word? What is the part of speech given for each word?
2 Find an entry in the dictionary that includes a list of synonyms
Copy down the main entry and synonyms
3 Find a word or definition of a word that is labeled as archaic or obsolete.
4 Find a word or definition that is labeled slang
5 Find a dictionary entry that includes a usage note
A thesaurus is an essential reference tool that provides lists of synonyms and antonyms, making it a valuable complement to a dictionary It proves particularly beneficial when searching for the perfect word to express your thoughts or when aiming to enhance your writing with diverse vocabulary For instance, when discussing the works of poet e e cummings, a thesaurus can help you find more vivid language to enrich your description.
Modern poet e e cummings was famous for his strange use of punctuation
You realize that "strange" may not be the most accurate term, as a quick search in the thesaurus reveals several synonyms like odd, unusual, extraordinary, uncommon, eccentric, unconventional, and bizarre.
Modern poet e e cummings was famous for his unconventional use of punctuation
In the sentences below, replace the overused word great with a more precise and appropriate synonym Write your answers in your notebook.
1 We had a great time at the party.
2 The great mountain loomed up before the climbers
3 Sammy Sosa is a great baseball player.
4 Lisa’s weekend was going great until she remembered she had a test on Monday.
5 The senator lay awake all night worrying about the great decision she would have to make the next day.
When utilizing a thesaurus, it's crucial to select synonyms that align with the context and convey the appropriate connotations Avoid choosing words solely for their impressive sound; often, the simplest word is the most effective choice.
The well-known poet e e cummings
In addition to synonyms, the thesaurus provides antonyms for most words
Antonyms for strange include regular, conventional, run-of-the- mill, usual, and ordinary
Handbook 2.4, "Using a Dictionary," found on page 1046 of the student textbook, presents a diagram that outlines the components of a dictionary entry This resource is designed to assist you in identifying the main entry of a word, along with its pronunciation, etymology, definitions, example phrases, synonyms, alternative forms, and part-of-speech label.
9 © EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling LEVEL V, UNIT 1
Time Out for Test Practice
Word Study Skills and PAVE
_ 1 The dictionary entry for the word alcove contains the notation n after the pronunciation key What does the n stand for in this entry?
The dictionary entry for the word "alcove" includes its etymology, tracing its origins from the French term "alcôve," which comes from the Spanish "alcoba," ultimately derived from the Arabic "al-qubba," meaning "the arch."
A the part-of-speech label
B the pronunciation of the word
C the origins of the word
D other forms of the word
E the definition of the word _ 3 Which of the following statements is correct based on the information provided in questions 1 and 2?
A The word alcove is from the French word alcôve.
B The first recorded use of alcove occurred in Spain.
C The Arabic word al-qubba means
E Only A and C _ 4 What does it mean if a word is labeled nonstandard in a dictionary?
A It means it is considered incorrect in standard, formal English
B It means it is considered archaic and is not commonly used today.
C It means it is considered a false statement or used as propaganda.
D It means it is mainly used as an irregular verb.
_ 5 Which of the following is an example of an obsolete word?
E All of the above _ 6 You would use a thesaurus when
A you want to find the definition of a word.
B you want to find an antonym of a word.
C you want to know a word’s etymology.
D you want to find example phrases for a word.
E All of the above _ 7 For what does the acronym PAVE stand?
E Plan, Assign, Verify, Explain _ 8 When you check the definition of an unknown word using a dictionary, which step in the PAVE process are you performing?
_ 9 In the PAVE process, after you have verified the definition of the unknown word, your next step would be to
A connect to the word using a sentence of your own creation.
B determine if the sentence you wrote using the word does a good job of capturing its meaning.
C use your prior knowledge to define the word to the best of your ability.
D use context clues to determine whether your definition was correct.
In the following questions, select the best replacement for each underlined word.
_ 1 His unconventional use of punctuation, combined with his strange habit of writing in all lowercase letters, makes his poetry unusual and incredible.
D exotic _ 2 He rose from obscurity to become one of the greatest and most favorite president of the United States.
D reviled _ 3 Abraham Lincoln was a potent speaker.
Abraham Lincoln succeeded in freeing the slaves and keeping the Union together.
D feeble _ 5 If I could encounter any person from history, I would choose Abraham Lincoln.
D confront _ 6 It is favorable that we know so much about him.
11 © EMC Publishing, LLC Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling LEVEL V, UNIT 2 eloquent (el> @ kw@nt) adj., marked by forceful and fluent expression; vividly or movingly expressive
The speaker’s eloquent words left everyone feeling moved and inspired
The term "eloquent" derives from the Latin root "loqu," meaning "to speak." This root is evident in words such as "elocution," which refers to the art of public speaking, "loquacious," describing someone who is excessively talkative, and "circumlocution," the practice of speaking in circles to confuse listeners or avoid addressing a topic directly.
Eloquent can be used to describe other kinds of expression, such as writing, acting, singing, and visual art, as well as speech
For example, one may refer to an
“eloquent writer” or an “eloquent performance.”
Understanding a word's meaning can be achieved by analyzing its components, known as morphemes, which each carry a portion of meaning For instance, the word "prediction" consists of three morphemes: the prefix "pre-" meaning "before," the root "dict" meaning "say," and the suffix "-ion," which indicates an "action or process."
The combination of the morphemes pre-, dict, and -ion forms a word that signifies "the action of predicting something before it occurs." There are numerous other terms that also include these morphemes.
There are four primary components of words: prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and base words A prefix is a set of letters added to the start of a word to alter its meaning, such as "un-" in words like unnecessary, unavailable, and uneasy.
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning example -ify (purify, magnify, glorify)
A word root is a fundamental part of a word that carries more meaning than a prefix or suffix While most word roots cannot function independently as words, they must be combined with other roots, prefixes, or suffixes to form complete words For instance, the root "spect" appears in various terms such as "spectator," "spectacle," "perspective," and "respect."