12.3 Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

When and Where I Found It: One of my students came up to me today and asked me what the longest English word was. I had no idea and told her that I would look it up for her and let her know tomorrow. When I searched it on google.com this word came up. I can't believe that it has 45 letters in it!

What It Means: According to dictionay.com Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is: "an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language."

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

Level Of Familiarity: Prior to looking up this word I had never heard of this word and will be suprised if I ever hear it again. I even tried pronouncing it a few times and I can't even do that!

Should I Know This Word Well? I definately don't think it's a word that I need to know although it would be cool if I could learn to say it...It may come up in a trivia question some day!

Should Others Know This Word? Who and Why? The only people I can think of that could possibly need to know this word is perhaps a pulminary specialist. I absolutely do not think that the average person needs to know this word by any means!

12.2 Melancholy

When and Where I Found It: I was watching the movie "Megamind" (which I love) and the bad guy of the movie, Megamind pronounces several words wrong. He pronounces the letter /o/ like and /a/ and vice versa. While watching this movie he pronounced the word 'melancholy' as mel-on-cholly and I found it hilarious (see previous post for term).

Source: Megamind (2010)

What it Means: According to dictionary.com melancholy means:
noun
1.a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2.sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
3. Archaic .
a. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to
cause gloominess and depression.
b.black bile.

adjective
4.affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood.
5. causing melancholy or sadness; saddening: a melancholy occasion.
6. soberly thoughtful; pensive.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/melancholy">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/melancholy

Level of Familiarity: I am very familiar with this word and for some reason forget about it often. Every time I hear it I realize how much I love it. In high school I used to use it in a lot of my essays because it was such a good adjective!

Should I Know This Word Well? I don't know if it's imperative to know well but I sure do love it! As someone who loves to read, it does come up in various texts so it is beneficial to know for me.

Should Others Know This Word? Who and Why? I think that it's a good word for teachers to offer to their students who are looking for a good adjective to use but I don't think that it's crucial for anyone in particular to know.

12.1 Microthemes

When and Where I Found It:
I found this word in Jessica's assigned article: "Writing to Learn the Curriculum: Tools for Comprehension in Content Area Classes" (Duggan & Knipper, 2006). The authors described the term microthemes as a writing strategy. The article states that microthemes are a strategy "in which students are asked to draw together key ideas in their own words from a reading assignment, demonstration, experiment or lecture" (p. 466).

Citation:
Duggan, Timothy, J. & Knipper, Kathy J. (2006). Writing to learn across the curriculum:Tools
for comprehension in content area classes. The Reading Teacher 59(5):462-470.

What It Means: For once I am not using dictionary.com!!!! According to the Duggan and Knipper (2006), microthemes is a writing activity that is done after students read, listen to a lecture, or finish an activity. As stated above, students are asked to assemble the main ideas of the assigned activity in their own words and record these summaries on note cards to create study cards or quick review cards.

Level of Familiarity: Prior to reading this article I had never heard of this word before. After reading the article, I have a general understanding of what the word means and could guess how to implement this strategy into my classroom.

Should I Want to Know This Well? I think that I should know this word because I think that microthemes can be used in the classroom (any content area) to help students synthesize and clarify key concepts of a text, lesson, demonstration, etc. I think that it's really important that students learn to summarize in their own words (which is a key component of this strategy). As a classroom teacher, I wouldn't mind trying this out in my classroom!

Should Others Know This Word Well? Who and Why? I think that educators and literacy specialists should know this word and understand how to implement this stratgy in the classroom. As I stated above, it does have benefits and could definately help students who are struggling with summarizing, recalling, clarifying, etc.

11.1 Winningest

"Winningest!"

When and Where I Found It: While watching a basketball game on TV with my fiance he mentioned that we were about to see the Duke coach become the "winningest" coach in basketball. I laughed at him for using such a rediculous made up word. As he swore it was a real term he decided to prove it to my by shoving the dictionary.com definition in my face. As I sat there corrected (and slightly embarrassed) the caption came up on the TV that stated: "The winningest college basketball coach: Mike Kryzewski." He definately took advantage of this "I told you so" moment.

Citation: Duke vs. Michigan State game coverage provided by ESPN (11.15.11)

What It Means: According to dictionary.com:

1. winning most often: the winningest coach in college basketball.
2. most winning or charming: the winningest smile in town.

Citation: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/winningest

Familiarity of the Word: As stated above, I had never heard of this word prior to last night and when I did hear it I still couldn't believe it was a real word.

Should I Know This Word Well? Well, I have made it this far not knowing this word but since I have come across this word, I have seen it several times on various sports shows/games (it even popped up as I am writing this now). I must admit that it is a fun word to know and considering the amount of sports I am exposed to through my fiance, it'd be nice to know it. (I'm actually suprised I haven't come across this word sooner!)

Should Others Know This Word Well? Who? I can't say that this is a word that I think everyone should or find it as funny as I do. However, if someone is big into sports I think tat this is an important and run word to know.

10.1 Test

When and Where I Found It: Oh boy the dreaded "test" word! I can't remember the first time I heard this word but after I learned what it meant, I have shuttered every time I've heard it ever since. Tests and testing was a common theme in the readings for week 10.

What the Word Means: According to dictionary.com, the definition of test is:
noun
1. the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
2. the trial of the quality of something: to put to the test.
3.a particular process or method for trying or assessing.
4.a set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group; examination.
5. Psychology. a set of standardized questions, problems, or tasks designed to elicit responses for use in measuring the traits, capacities, or achievements of an individual.

Verb
9. to subject to a test of any kind; try.
10. Chemistry. to subject to a chemical test.
11. Metallurgy. to assay or refine in a cupel.

12. to undergo a test or trial; try out.
13. to perform on a test: People test better in a relaxed evironment.
14. to conduct a test: to test for diabetes.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/test

Level of Familiarity: I am extremely familiar with this word. From taking tests, to creating and administering them I have been on moth sides of the testing process. As stated previously, I have taken tests from an early age but more recently began developing them.

Should I Know This Term: As a student, unfortunately I have to and as a teacher I absolutely need to. Testing is so heavily relied on in education it's imposible to grow up in the US (especially NY) without taking a test. As a teacher, tests come in many shapes and forms but they are a must.

Should Others Know This Word? Who and Why? I think that everyone should know this term as well as straegies to take tests. As stated previously, educators must have a good understanding of tests and know how to create quality exams. In order for tests to be successful students need to have the skills/ strategies to take them and teachers must be able to create quality exams for their students.