Definition of Terms
Generative Word Knowledge- Strategies for word learning that support an independent, generative knowledge of words, which enhances students’ word learning in addition to instruction of specific words, as in morphological analysis of words (Lehr, Osborn, & Hiebert, 2005, p.14).
Mnemonic- 1. adj. having to do with memory, especially with strategies to improve memorizing. 2. n., pl. (with sing. v.), devices and techniques to improve memory (Harris & Hodges, 1995, p. 156).
Morphology- n. the study of structure and forms of words including derivation, inflection, and compounding. (Harris & Hodges, 1995, p. 158).
Morpheme- n. a meaningful linguistic unit that cannot be divided into smaller meaningful elements, as the word book, or that is a component of a word, as s in books. (Harris & Hodges, 1995, p. 158).
Root- n. 1. the basic part of a word that usually carries the main component of meaning and that cannot be further analyzed without loss of identity. (Harris & Hodges,1995, p.222).
Tier 1 and Tier 2 words- Tier 1 words: Tier 1 Words consist of the most basic words. These words rarely require direct instruction and typically do not have multiple meanings. Sight words, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and early reading words occur at this level. Examples of Tier 1 Words are: book, girl, sad, run, dog, and orange. There are about 8,000 word families in English included in Tier 1. Tier 2 words: Tier 1 Words consist of high frequency words that occur across a variety of domains. These words occur often in mature language situations such as adult conversations and literature, and therefore strongly influence speaking and reading. Tier 2 Words are the most important words for direct instruction because they are good indicators of a student’s progress through school. Examples of Tier 2 words are: masterpiece, fortunate, industrious, measure, and benevolent. Tier 3 words: low frequency, content-specific words (Hutton, 2008, pp. 1-2).
Word Schema- a network of knowledge related to a word, involving both semantic knowledge about the connections of word meanings to specific concepts and linguistic knowledge about words such as their roots and their relationships to other words with the same roots (Lehr, et al, 2005, p. 4).
