When and Where did I find the word: I found the word in Chapter 1 of Fisher and Frey's (2009) book assigned in session 4. The term is introduced on page 15.
Formal Citation: Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2009), Background knowledge: the missing piece of the comprehension puzzle. Portsmouth, NH: He
Definition of the Word: The term "declarartive memories" are "those that can be easily expressed in a sentencethat makes a statement" (p.15). This is also known as "explicit memory can be subdivided into two categories: episodic and semantic" (p.15). the authors go on to explain that the hippocampus is crucial for this type of memory and if damaged, it will result in the inability to form or retain new memories.
Level of Familiarity: When I took anatomy and physiology we briefly talked about this term yet we did not discuss how it may affect one's learning. I would recognize the term if I hear it but I would not use it in my daily life.
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why: I think that it's good to be familiar with the term because it plays such a crucial role in a person's background knowledge and as a teacher (which I am), background knowledge is crucial.
.Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, WHO and WHY?: For the same reasons as listed above I think that this term is important for educators and literacy specialists.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
4.1 Transferable
When and Where did I find the word: I found the word on page 7 of Fisher and Frey's(2009) book Background Knowledge: The Missing Piece of the Comprehension Puzzle.
Formal Citation: Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2009). Background knowledge: the missing piece of the comprehension puzzle. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
What it means: As stated by the authors, trasferable refers to "the ability to transfer background knowledge to novel situations" (p.7). They also go on to say that transfer is "the application of new learning" (p.7). Transferability is the "ultimate goal" of teaching yet it's one of the "biggest challenges we face each day" as educators (p.7).
Level of Familiarity: Though this term is very familiar to me, I find a new and deeper understanding of it after reading chapter 1 in Fisher and Frey (2009). Prior to reading, if I thought of the term "transfer" something educational would probably be one of the last things that I would have thought of. Now, I find it to be a very good word to describe moving background knowledge into new situations and material.
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why? As stated in the reading, this word and idea is the ultimate goal of educators. I think that this term is definately something that I want to know and keep in mind as the end result of my teaching. By this, I mean that I want my students to be able to transfer their background knowledge into new material discussed in class. I need to keep this goal in mind so that I can decifer the best ways to get the students to make those connections.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, WHO and WHY?: I do believe that educators should know this term and the idea behind it in order to better serve their students.
Formal Citation: Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2009). Background knowledge: the missing piece of the comprehension puzzle. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
What it means: As stated by the authors, trasferable refers to "the ability to transfer background knowledge to novel situations" (p.7). They also go on to say that transfer is "the application of new learning" (p.7). Transferability is the "ultimate goal" of teaching yet it's one of the "biggest challenges we face each day" as educators (p.7).
Level of Familiarity: Though this term is very familiar to me, I find a new and deeper understanding of it after reading chapter 1 in Fisher and Frey (2009). Prior to reading, if I thought of the term "transfer" something educational would probably be one of the last things that I would have thought of. Now, I find it to be a very good word to describe moving background knowledge into new situations and material.
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why? As stated in the reading, this word and idea is the ultimate goal of educators. I think that this term is definately something that I want to know and keep in mind as the end result of my teaching. By this, I mean that I want my students to be able to transfer their background knowledge into new material discussed in class. I need to keep this goal in mind so that I can decifer the best ways to get the students to make those connections.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, WHO and WHY?: I do believe that educators should know this term and the idea behind it in order to better serve their students.
3.2 Breadth
When and Where Did I Find the Word: While completing the readings for week 3 I came across the word in Fisher and Frey's book Word Wise and Content Rich (2008). On page 8 the word is mentioned in a list describing the 5 dimensions of vocabulary knowledge measurement.
Full Citation: Fisher, O., & Frey, N. (2008). Word wise and content rich, grades 7-12, five essential steps to teaching academic vocabulary. Heinemann Educational Books.
What the Word Means: According to dictionary.com breadth has several definitions which include: "1. the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width. 2. an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width: a breadth of cloth. 3. freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality: a person with great breadth of view.
4. size in general; extent. 5. A broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials." The context of the word in our course material stated "breadth through recall of words." In this particular case, considering the context, I would guess that the definition that best fits is number 3.
Level of Familiarity: Though I have heard the word a few times before I have never taken the time to understand its meaning. I assumed that breadth would mean a "vast" or "wealth" of something. I suppose I didn't realize that there were so many meanings. Personally, I had never used this word due to the lack of familiarity of it.
Do I Want to Know this Word Well? I think that it's important to be familiar with the word but I do not think that it is crucial to the vocabulary of an individual.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word...If So Who and Why? Again, I think that it's a word that is nice to become familiar with in case one comes across it. It would be beneficial to have an idea of its variety of definitions but I do not think that it's a word that is crucial for anyone to know.
Full Citation: Fisher, O., & Frey, N. (2008). Word wise and content rich, grades 7-12, five essential steps to teaching academic vocabulary. Heinemann Educational Books.
What the Word Means: According to dictionary.com breadth has several definitions which include: "1. the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width. 2. an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width: a breadth of cloth. 3. freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality: a person with great breadth of view.
4. size in general; extent. 5. A broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials." The context of the word in our course material stated "breadth through recall of words." In this particular case, considering the context, I would guess that the definition that best fits is number 3.
Level of Familiarity: Though I have heard the word a few times before I have never taken the time to understand its meaning. I assumed that breadth would mean a "vast" or "wealth" of something. I suppose I didn't realize that there were so many meanings. Personally, I had never used this word due to the lack of familiarity of it.
Do I Want to Know this Word Well? I think that it's important to be familiar with the word but I do not think that it is crucial to the vocabulary of an individual.
Do I Think Others Should Know This Word...If So Who and Why? Again, I think that it's a word that is nice to become familiar with in case one comes across it. It would be beneficial to have an idea of its variety of definitions but I do not think that it's a word that is crucial for anyone to know.
Monday, September 19, 2011
3.1 Metacognition
When and Where Did I Find It: This isn't the first time that I've heard this word. I think recently encountered it in the reading of Billmeyer and Barton's book Teaching Reading in the Content Areas (1998).
Full Citation: Billmeyer, A., & Barton, M. L. (1998). Teaching reading in the content areas, if not me, then who?. teacher's manual. Assn for Supervision & Curriculum.
What it Means: The authors state that "metacognition" one's "ability to think about and to control his thnking process before, during, and after reading" (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998, p.3). Dictionary.com defines metacognition as "Thinking about one's own mental processes." Basically, thinking about one's own thinking.
Level of Familiarity: As stated previously, I am pretty familiar with this word as I should be considering it's a big part of the literacy process!
Do I Want/Need to Know This Word Well? Why?: As stated above, it's important to the literacy processes to know and understand this word.
Should Others Know This Word Well? Why? I think that others need to be familiar with the word. I think that the concept and the process that the word represents is more important. For example, Billmeyer and Barton (1998) state that "How well a reader comprehends a text is...dpendent on metacognition" (p.3). I'd say it's a good word/ process/ skill to know and use!
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