I forgot to add

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Home : 2006 : May : 28

I forgot to add
By maryteach

that since our language is built (and spelled) morphemically, NOT phonemically, teaching word parts is very helpful:

"spect" means vision, or pertaining to seeing:

inSPECT
retroSPECT
introSPECTive
SPECTactle(s)
SPECTactular
perSPECTive

"tele"
means over distance:

TELEvision (vision from distance)
TELEkinesis (moving from a distance)
TELEgraph (writing from a distance)

I think that if we give kids something to hook vocabulary onto, like word parts, then teaching (and learning) vocabulary is much easier. I don't ever make them turn

around and "use it in a sentence" as that really doesn't tell me what they've learned. Most words can be used "in a sentence" in a very generic, noncommittal form.

BTW, I am always asking the sentence diagrammers on this site why they teach diagramming. I still don't think diagramming is anyplace to spend precious instructional time, but this IS the justification for teaching parts of speech--but most teachers completely miss it, and instead tell me things like: "so they know where to place words in a sentence." WHAT?! Trust me, folks, the kids know where to place words in a sentence (I still can't believe she said that). It's innate. You're born with an innate grammar in your brain. Turns out that our brain is actually programmed to string phrase structures together, and to connect them in the proper order. It's not taught. But within the context of vocabulary instruction, parts of speech instruction is quite helpful (but never diagramming). Unfortunately, the grammar queens always miss this very important application, and instead come up with silly reasons for doing what they do.

Lack of vocabulary is the reason a lot of kids can't paraphrase when doing research, can't comprehend what they're reading, and write in a flat monotone. When you don't have words, your world is so, so small.