8:4 Schema

When and Where I Found It:  I found the word schema while I was reading an assigned text this weekend from my other class [A Case Study of a High School English-Language Learner and His Reading by James Cohen (2007)].

Meaning:  In the article, Cohen (2007) states “Reading involves making meaning from the very beginning by activating schema, deciphering the meanings of words by the context in which they are written, and recognizing patterns” (p. 165).  Webster online dictionary defines schema (appropriate to this usage) as “the organization of experience in the mind or brain that includes a particular organized way of perceiving cognitively and responding to a complex situation or set of stimuli”.  In regard to reading, schema is what needs to be activated and used in order to carry out the physical act of reading words and sentences. 

Level of Familiarity:  I have read the word schema many times, and even had a vague notion that I understood what the authors who used this word were conveying.  When I read this word again the other day I realized that I did not know the actual definition or exact meaning of the word schema.  Because of my heightened awareness of vocabulary, I would now be able to use this word in my own writing,

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  Why?  I want to know the word schema well because it is one word that sums up a complex cognitive process.  To explain what needs to happen in order to be able to read without using the word schema would involve a very complicated and lengthy description.  I myself have never put it into words, and now that I have a full understanding of the word schema I will use it when I am discussing what needs to happen in order to be able to read.

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  I think teachers and students in the education field should know this word.  The word schema is a word matched by no other word for describing the complex brain response to the stimuli of written text.  Teachers should be aware that this process needs to be activated in order for reading to occur.

The term schema was found in:

Cohen, J. (2007). A case study of a high school English-language learner and his reading. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 51, (2), 164-176.

8:3 Transact

When and Where I Found It:  I found the word  transact while I was reading an assigned text this weekend from my other class [A Case Study of a High School English-Language Learner and His Reading by  James Cohen (2007)].

Meaning:  Cohen (2007) uses the common word transact as an educational term.  When speaking about a particular student’s growth in reading, he states “Mario was able to transact with this text.  He was able to make meaning, ask questions, and form opinions about the text” (p. 172).  Cohen’s use of this word transact suggests that the word is similar to interact:  the student was able to not only comprehend the text, but to apply that meaning beyond what the author directly explicated in the text.

Level of Familiarity:  I know that the word transact indicates an exchange has occurred, similar to a bank transaction.  Some sort of business has been completed.  I had never heard the word used when describing a student’s level of comprehension with text.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well.  The word transact has many implications when describing a student’s ability to read a particular text.  I want to hold that as my standard – have my goal for all students not just be simple comprehension, but the ability to transact with the text.

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  All teachers should know this word and what it entails.  When teaching reading comprehension, we should all be aware that it is more than just questions and answers. 

The term transact was found in:

Cohen, J. (2007). A case study of a high school English-language learner and his reading. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 51, (2), 164-176.

8:2 Metaphorical Teaching

When and Where I Found It:  While reading an article from the journal Guiding Students through Informational Text by Karen D. Wood this week, I came across a specialized term metaphorical teaching.

Meaning:  In the article, Wood states “Teachers will need to model and provide examples before eliciting the student generated analogies which will ‘make the strange familiar.’  Thus, they will have incorporated the many benefits of metaphorical teaching in the instructional lesson.”  This quote implies that metaphorical teaching is when a teacher uses what the students already know and compares it to the unfamiliar.  This analogy making allows students to use background knowledge and connect it with new information.

Level of Familiarity:  I understand what a metaphor is, however, I had never heard of the term “metaphorical teaching.” 

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well.  I know the importance of activating background knowledge when introducing new material to students, however, I had never thought of using analogies and metaphors as a strategy to foster students’ connection with unfamiliar material.  As a teacher, this will help me by giving me another tool to use when I am trying to help students connect with potentially difficult topics. 

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  I believe that all teachers should be familiar with this term as it gives an effective strategy to use when presenting new material to students.  My fellow LTED students could also use this for themselves to make analogies with new information we receive in our classes.

The term metaphorical teaching was found in:

Wood, K. D. (1988). Guiding students through informational text. The Reading Teacher, 41(9), 912-920.

8:1 Empirical Evidence

When and Where I Found It:  This week I was reading one of the assigned journals for class: Guiding Students through Informational Text, by Karen D. Wood.  While introducing an Interactive Reading Guide on page 915, Wood claims “Much empirical evidence supports using cooperative learning techniques in the classroom.”

Meaning:  According to Webster's online dictionary, empirical evidence is evidence that is "originating in or based on observation or experience"

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empirical

Level of Familiarity:  I know what evidence means as well as I understand the implications of what evidence means when it comes to research, however, when I came to the term “empirical evidence,” I was unsure about its intended meaning.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  Why?  Yes, I do want to know this word well.  Next semester I will be finding peer reviewed articles for my capstone project and will need to understand what type of research was conducted in these studies.  Additionally, projects I am working on in my current classes require me to have a thorough understanding of various forms of research and the evidence that results from these studies.

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  I feel that my fellow Literacy classmates should fully understand this word and its connection to research.  Additionally, those who want to keep up on current investigations would benefit from knowing the implied meaning of this word.

The term empirical evidence was found in:

Wood, K. D. (1988). Guiding students through informational text. The Reading Teacher, 41(9), 912-920.

5:2 Immaterial

When and Where I Found It:  While reading a classmates blog this week describing where she first heard about a "lynch pin" as well as explaining its definition, she wrote:  "Something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause of interest."  I thought it was interesting seeing "immaterial" as an adjective to describe "assistance."  I wasn't sure what the intended message the author from Thefreedictionary.com (the website where my classmate got her definition from) was trying to create.

Meaning:  The meaning of immaterial according to dictionary.com is:  "of no essential consequence; unimportant or not pertinent; irrelevant, not material; incorporeal; spiritual."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/immaterial?&qsrc=

Level of Familiarity:  I have heard of this word before wasn't sure of its exact definition. 

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  Why?  Yes, I do want to know this word well. It's a word that has a significant impact when used in a sentence.  For instance, "The detectives questioned the suspect over and over before realizing he was immaterial to their case."  Without knowing the word immaterial, the whole meaning of that sentence could be changed.

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  I do believe that others should know this word well.  The word immaterial comes up in a variety of contexts within conversation and text.  It is a much more complex word than saying "not important" and holds more value in a deeper level conversation. 

5:1 Fiduciary

When and Where I Found It:  Last night while watching the $100,000 finale of America's Funiest Home Videos, Tom Bergeron made the comment:  "We would feel bad if we gave away all this money without providing a little fiduciary advice."  The video clips that followed showed what people could do with $100,000 if they won the vote for the funniest home video.  One of the nominees included buying "a boat... or two" which showed a man misguiding his sailboat into a dock and then reflecting off into another sailboat, stern first. 

Meaning:  According to Merrian-Webster's online dictionary, Fiducaiary (n, adj) is "relating to, or involving a confidence or trust: depending on public confidence for value or currency."
This definition can be found at:  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiduciary

Level of Familiarity:  I had never heard of this word before.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well?  I would like to know this word.  One reason being so I can understand the joke Tom was making when he talked about "fiduciary advice."  Another reason is to be able to use this word in a conversation with my father when he starts handing out suggestions of what I should be doing with my money.  The first reason is a much more humerous occasion than the second.

Do I Want Others to Know this Word Well?  Who and Why?  I do want others to know this word well.  Any person who is in the business field should be competent in understanding the definition of this word and be able to use it logically in a conversation.  This will allow them to sound knowledgeable about the business world as they have discussions with co-workers and clients.  For my fellow literacy students, I think this word would be beneficial to know when dealing with your own personal finances.  Anyone from human resource directors to personal tax accountants may use this word while giving advice.  I know from my own personal experience, understanding "business talk" can be a complicated process.  Any additional vocabulary words under my belt will only help!