Key Vocabulary and Concepts in Literacy Education

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to literacy education, including definitions and examples for a comprehensive understanding.

Structural Analysis

The process of dividing words into parts to discover what a word means, often involving roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Morpheme

The smallest unit of meaning in a word, such as prefixes or suffixes like pre-, dis-, or -tion.

Morphology

The study of the form of words, including their structure and how they are formed.

Connotation

The feelings or emotions associated with a word, beyond its literal meaning.

Denotation

The dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word.

Synonym

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.

Antonym

A word that has the opposite or nearly the opposite meaning of another word.

Etymology

The study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed over time.

Allegory

A narrative that conveys a hidden meaning or moral, often using symbolic figures.

Autobiography

A self-written account of the author's own life.

Biography

A written account of another person's life.

Classic

A work of literature recognized as outstanding and widely read, often remaining in print over time.

Fantasy

A genre of literature that includes elements beyond the realm of possibility, requiring a suspension of disbelief.

Folktale

Traditional stories originating from oral storytelling traditions, often conveying cultural wisdom.

Haiku

A form of Japanese poetry composed of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure.

Historical Fiction

A literary genre where the story is set in a past historical context with fictional elements.

Legend

A traditional story, sometimes based on historical events, which may include supernatural elements.

Myth

A narrative from cultural traditions that illustrates relationships between humans and the cosmos.

Non-fiction

Literature that presents factual information about the world.

Poetry

A form of literary expression that conveys ideas and emotions through rhythm and imaginative language.

Assessment Validity

The degree to which an assessment accurately measures what it claims to measure.

Assessment Reliability

The ability of an assessment tool to produce consistent results over time.

Fluency

The ability to read text smoothly and with understanding.

Decoding

The process of interpreting written text and converting it into speech by matching letters to their sounds.

Phoneme

The smallest unit of sound in a language.

Grapheme

The written representation of a phoneme, which can be one or more letters.

Environmental Print

The print found in everyday life that children encounter, which helps them understand reading in context.

Rhetorical Device

A tool used by speakers or writers to persuade or enhance their argument.