Vocabulary Flashcards - Development of Reading Comprehension

Glossary-style vocabulary terms and concise definitions drawn from the lecture notes on reading comprehension and related strategies.

Vocabulary development

The process of teaching and learning words and their meanings to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Oral vocabulary

The set of words a person understands and uses in spoken language; foundational for decoding and reading comprehension.

Written vocabulary

The set of words encountered and used in written form; expands through reading and supports higher order thinking.

Word consciousness

Awareness and interest in words, their meanings, and usage that motivates vocabulary growth.

Word origins / etymology

Study of the history and origin of words and how meanings have evolved over time.

Prefix, root, suffix (morphemes)

Word parts used to analyze meaning; prefixes at the start, roots form the base, and suffixes at the end.

Morpheme analysis

Strategy of breaking words into meaningful units to understand or infer meaning.

Context clues

Strategies for inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words from surrounding text.

Apposition (context clues)

A definition or synonym provided within the sentence to help understand a word.

Definition/Explanation (context clues)

An explicit statement defining or explaining a term within the text.

Restatement / Synonym (context clues)

Giving a restatement or a synonym to clarify the meaning of a word.

Contrast / Antonym (context clues)

Using opposite meanings to clarify a word's meaning.

Inference clue (context clues)

Meaning inferred from overall sentence meaning rather than a direct definition.

Syntax and Punctuation (context clues)

Word meaning inferred from sentence structure and punctuation cues.

Incidental vocabulary exposure

Encountering sophisticated words naturally during reading or conversation without explicit instruction.

Tier I vocabulary

High-frequency, basic words learned through everyday speech; usually do not require explicit instruction.

Tier II vocabulary

High-utility academic words used across content areas; crucial for comprehension and often taught explicitly.

Tier III vocabulary

Content specific terms used within particular subjects; often taught in context.

Example Tier II word: analyze

A high-utility academic word that appears across contexts and is taught for greater comprehension.

Example Tier III word: photosynthesis

A content-specific term used in science to describe a process by which plants make energy.

Word walls

Classroom displays of vocabulary words organized for learning and reference.

Cognates

Words in different languages with shared etymology and meaning that aid understanding for English learners.

Academic language

Formal language used in educational settings, including specialized vocabulary and grammar.

Diction

The level of formality in language; levels include formal, informal, colloquial, and slang.

Tone

The author or speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience as conveyed through language.

Denotation

The literal dictionary meaning of a word.

Connotation

The ideas or feelings a word evokes beyond its literal meaning.

Figurative language

Non literal language used to create imagery or emphasize meaning.

Simile

A figure of speech using like or as to compare two unlike things.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using like or as.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non human things.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a sound.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Idioms

Phrases whose meaning is not predictable from the individual words.

Alliteration

Repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, often for humorous or emphatic effect.

Foreshadow

Hints or clues about what will happen later in a text.

Text structures

Organizational patterns used in writing to present information: narrative, descriptive, expository, argumentative, etc.

Narrative text structure

A structure that tells a story with plot, setting, characters, and conflicts.

Descriptive text structure

A structure that uses vivid details to create imagery about people, places, or things.

Expository text structure

A structure that explains or informs, often with facts and logical reasoning.

Argumentative / Persuasive structure

A structure presenting a claim and supporting evidence to persuade the reader.

Compare and Contrast structure

A structure highlighting similarities and differences between elements.

Cause and Effect structure

A structure showing how actions lead to certain outcomes.

Sequence / Chronological structure

A structure organizing events in the order they occurred.

Theme

The central message, idea, or insight about life in a literary work.

Character

A person, animal, or figure in a story with traits, motivations, and development.

Setting

When and where a story takes place; context for events.

Point of View

The narrative perspective from which a story is told (first, second, third person).

First person

Narration using I, we; the story is told from the narrator's own perspective.

Second person

Narration addressing the reader as you.

Third person (objective, limited, omniscient)

Narration from an outside perspective; objective reports events, limited reveals a character, or omniscient knows all.

Think-Aloud

A strategy where the teacher verbalizes their thinking processes while reading to model strategy use.

Close Reading

A careful, deliberate reading of a text with multiple readings and detailed analysis.

Reciprocal Teaching

A collaborative approach where students predict, question, clarify, and summarize.

QAR (Question-Answer Relationship)

A framework classifying questions by where answers come from: right there, think and search, author and you.

Graphic Organizers

Visual tools that help organize information, such as Story Maps, Plot Diagrams, Venn Diagrams.

KWL Chart

Pre-reading activity to identify What you Know, What you Want to know, and What you Learned.

Semantic Map

A graphic organizer showing relationships among concepts around a central idea.

Cornell Notes

Note-taking method with cues, notes, and a summary section for review.

Primary source

Firsthand accounts or records created during an event or time period.

Secondary source

Interpretations or analyses of primary sources created later by others.

Disciplinary literacy

Ability to read, write, and analyze texts in ways specific to a discipline, using sources appropriately.