Reading Strategies

Workshop

“Unlocking the World of

Words”

Interpret and Increase

Vocabulary by Using

and

Questions???How many of you have more than five

uninterrupted hours a day to devote

to reading?

How many of you always understand

every word you read?

How many of you have/use a cell

phone?

PURPOSE Affects Reading Rate!

Factors that Affect Reading Rate

– Your reading purpose

– Prior knowledge

– Your interest level

– Complexity of materialFactors that

Affect Reading

Rate

Your reading purpose

Prior knowledge

Your interest

level

Complexity of material

Learning Reading

Rate

100-200 words per

minute

Average Reading

Rate

200-350 words per

minute

Casual Reading

Rate

350-600 words per

minute

Wittgenstein

“The limits of my

language mean the

limits of my world.”

If language creates our

understanding of the world……

• Probably the one activity that will

most improve your vocabulary is

reading.

• One important skill you need to

develop is figuring out the meaning

of words you do not know from

the context of the reading

itself.

To Be the Best WORD

DETECTIVE You Can Be……1. Identify your purpose

2. Identify your previous knowledge

3. Preview the reading

4. Predict what you will learn and pose

questions.

5. In other words, find your TOPIC

and MAIN IDEA and turn the

MAIN IDEA into a question.

Practice: • Purpose: please read following

paragraph to determine the author’s main point/idea.

• Previous knowledge: What experience do you have with childhood friends?

• Preview and Predict: With a quick scan, identify what you think the paragraph might be about.

• Attempt to determine topic and ask a guiding question…

Childhood FriendsYesterday, when I went to the

osmotle to buy some wattish for dinner, I saw a slampfer I knew when I was 10 years old. He smiled and was very ovish to see me, but I was amvishto see him because I had some bad dosilums from the last time I had seen him. We exchanged flabruations, and it seemed as if the previous montafottapottafell was no longer an issue. Happily, we parted chrits with a promise to schgrop again sometime in the future.

Practice Paragraph

for Context

What the what?!• Based on the paragraph on the slide before, please

use context clues to define what the following words could be:

• osmotle

• wattish

• slampfer

• Ovish

• amvish

• dosilums

• flabruations

• montafottapottafell

• chrits

• to schgrop

There are FOUR types of

Context Clues

• Four types of context clues:

–Definition and synonym clues

–Example clues

–General Information clues

–Contrast clues

Definition and Synonym

Clues• Synonym: A word that has a

similar meaning to another word

• Clues:

– Between or after commas

– After certain words (is, are, means, refers to, consists of, is called, that is, etc.)

– Between dashes

– In parentheses

• Sometimes you can figure out the

meaning of a word because you

understand the examples or

because both a definition and

examples are provided in the

reading.

Example Clues

General Information Clues

• Often you can understand an

unfamiliar word because you

already comprehend the rest of the

information in the surrounding

sentence or group of sentences.

Contrast Clues

• Contrast Clues:

– but

– in contrast to

– although

– on the other hand

– however

– unlike

Directions: Next to each word on this list indicate the

following by marking either a 1,2,or 3 in the first blank

to the right of the word.

1 – I don’t know this word

2 – I think I know the meaning of this word

3 – I can define this word

indolent ___ ___

alfresco ___ ___

canopy ___ ___

donnybrook ___ ___

antagonists ___ ___

posthaste ___ ___

CONTEXT CLUES – practice again

• It was a gorgeous day in late October, and

because I was sure this would be one of the last

great days before the onset of winter, I was

feeling extremely indolent and unwilling to

work. So I called my friend Jeanne and asked

her to play hooky from her job too and go out

to lunch. We decided to dine alfresco at a little

Italian café in our neighborhood. As we were

sitting under the striped canopy enjoying our

meal, a donnybrook broke out at a nearby

table. The antagonists were a group of

teenage boys who were evidently also playing

hooky that day. Because this tussle ruined the

serene and peaceful mood of our day, we asked

for the check and left the café posthaste.

Can you define the words below

based on the context clues in the

story?

• Indolent

• Alfresco

• Canopy

• Donnybrook

• Antagonists

• Posthaste

• Indolent – wanting to avoid activity

• Alfresco – taking place outdoors

• Canopy –covering of cloth held

with poles

• Donnybrook – a public brawl or

dispute

• Antagonists – one who opposes or

contends against another

• Posthaste – as fast as possible

An EASY Way to Remember

Context Clues…Context clues

often appear in

the following

places:

• The sentence

with the

unknown

word

• The sentence

before

• The sentence

after

But What if I Cannot Figure Out the Meaning of

the Words from CONTEXT CLUES?!!

Never fear!

WORD PARTS are here!

(apologies to Edvard Munch)

If language creates our

understanding of the world……• Probably the other activity that will

most improve your vocabulary is

exposure to new words. (see AWL list

at end)

• One important skill you need to

develop is figuring out a strategy for

when you encounter (yay!) new words,

such as the strategy of using word

parts.

Word Parts ActivityDirections:

-Please get into groups and assign

each person a number 1-4.

-Please have assigned members go to

envelopes that correspond with

number and pull out a secret piece

of paper.

-Follow instructions on paper, and

the group who comes up with the

most examples wins!

WORD PARTS• Prefix: Changes the meaning of the

root.

• Root: Carries out the main meaning

of the word. A word usually has at

least one root.

• Suffix: Changes the way a word is

used in a sentence.

Prefixes

Number

prefixes

Meaning Example 1 Example 2

Mono- One Monotonous

uni- One Unify

Bi- Two or Twice Biweekly

Tri- Three Triangle

Quad- Four Quadratic

Multi- Many Multipurpose

Poly- Many Polygamy

Semi- Half, Part Semicircle

Dec- Ten Decade

PrefixesNegative or

Negation

prefixes

Meaning Example 1 Example 2

Ab- Away from,

from

Abnormal

Contra- Against Contradict

De- Reverse,

undo

Deactivate

Dis- Apart from,

Reversal of

Disapprove

Il- Not Illegible

Im- Not Immortal

In- Not Incomplete

Un- Not Unimportant

Mal- Bad, wrong Malfunction

Mis- wrong Mistake

PrefixesTime

prefixes

Meaning Example 1 Example 2

Post After,

behind

Postpone

Pre Before Prefix

Proto First Prototype

Re again rewrite

PrefixesPlace or Position

prefixes

Meaning Example 1 Example 2

Circum Around Circumference

Peri Around Perimeter

Co With, together Cooperate

Col With, together Collaborate

Com With, together Communicate

Con With, together Connect

Sym With, together, similar Sympathetic

Syn With, together, similar Synonym

En In, put into Enclose

E Out, from Evade

Ex Out, from Expel

Inter Between, among International

Sub Follow, under, below Submarine

Tele Far off, distant Telepathy

Trans Across, over transfer

Other Common Prefixesprefixes Meaning Example 1 Example 2

Bene Good, well Benefit

Hyper Over,

excessive

Hyperactive

Pro In favor of,

forward

progress

ROOTS

Suffix Salad…Suffix Meanings Sample Words and Definitions -able able to be excitable, portable, preventable -ac pertaining to cardiac, hemophiliac, maniac -acity (-ocity) quality of

perspicacity, sagacity, velocity -ade act, action or process, product blockade, cavalcade, promenade, -age action or process passage, pilgrimage, voyage -aholic (-oholic) one with

an obsession for workaholic, shopaholic, alcoholic -al relating to bacterial, theatrical, natural -algia pain neuralgia, nostalgia, -an (-ian) relating to, belonging to Italian, urban,

African -ance state or quality of brilliance, defiance, annoyance -ant a person who applicant, immigrant, servant inclined to, tending to brilliant, defiant, vigilant -ar of or relating

to, being lunar, molecular, solar a person who beggar, burglar, liar -ard a person who does an action coward, sluggard, wizard -arian a person who disciplinarian, vegetarian,

librarian -arium (orium) a place for terrarium, aquarium, solarium -ary of or relating to literary, military, budgetary -ate state or quality of (adj.) affectionate, desolate,

obstinate makes the word a verb (different pronunciation) activate, evaporate, medicate -ation action or process creation, narration, emancipation -ative tending to (adj.)

creative, preservative, talkative -cide act of killing homicide, suicide, genocide -cracy rule, government, power bureaucracy, aristocracy, theocracy -crat someone who has power

aristocrat, bureaucrat, technocrat -cule diminutive (making something small) molecule, ridicule, -cy state, condition or quality efficiency, privacy, belligerency -cycle circle, wheel

bicycle, recycle, tricycle -dom condition of, state, realm boredom, freedom, wisdom -dox belief, praise orthodox, paradox -ectomy surgical removal of appendectomy,

hysterectomy -ed past tense called, hammered, laughed -ee receiver, performer nominee, employee, devotee -eer associated with/engaged in engineer, volunteer -emia blood

condition anemia, hypoglycemia, leukemia -en makes the word a verb awaken, fasten, strengthen -ence state or condition, action absence, dependence, negligence -ency condition

or quality clemency, dependency, efficiency -ent inclined to performing/causing, or one who performs/causes competent, correspondent, absorbent -er more bigger, faster,

happier action or process flutter, ponder, stutter a person who does an action announcer, barber, teacher -ern state or quality of eastern, northern, western -escence state or

process adolescence, convalescence -ese relating to a place Chinese, Congolese, Vietnamese -esque in the style of Kafkaesque, grotesque, burlesque -ess female actress, heiress,

lioness -est most funniest, hottest, silliest -etic relating to (makes the word an adj.) athletic, energetic, poetic -ette diminutive (makes something smaller) cigarette, diskette,

kitchenette -ful full of helpful, thankful, cheerful -fy make, cause (makes the word a verb) amplify, falsify, terrify -gam/gamy marriage, union monogam, polygamy -gon/gonic

angle hexagon, polygonic, pentagon -hood state, condition, or quality childhood, neighborhood, motherhood -ial relating to celestial, editorial, martial -ian relating to Martian,

utopian, pediatrician -iasis diseased condition elephantiasis, psoriasis -iatric healing practice pediatric, psychiatric, -ible able to be audible, plausible, legible -ic/ical relating to,

characterized by analytic/al, comic/al, organic -ile relating to, capable of agile, docile, volatile -ily in what manner sloppily, steadily, zanily -ine relating to canine, feminine,

masculine -ing materials bedding, frosting, roofing action or process dancing, seeing, writing -ion action or process celebration, completion, navigation -ious having the qualities

of, full of ambitious, cautious, gracious -ish relating to, characteristic apish, brutish, childish -ism state or quality altruism, despotism, heroism -ist a person, one who does an

action artist, linguist, pianist -ite resident of, follower, product of suburbanite, luddite, dynamite -itis inflammation, preoccupation appendicitis, tonsillitis, frontrunneritis -ity state,

condition, or quality abnormality, civility, necessity -ive inclined to; quality of; that which attractive, expensive, repulsive -ization act or process of making colonization,

fertilization, modernization -ize cause, treat, become antagonize, authorize, popularize -less without fearless, helpless, homeless -let version of booklet, droplet, inlet -like

resembling, characteristic childlike, homelike, lifelike -ling younger or inferior duckling, underling -loger/logist one who does astrologer, cardiologist, chronologer -log speech

dialog, monolog, -ly in what manner badly, courageously, happily -ment action, result movement, placement, shipment -ness state or quality (makes a noun) kindness, shyness,

weakness -oid resembling humanoid, tabloid, hemorrhoid -ology study of, science of anthropology, archaeology, biology -oma tumor, swelling carcinoma, osteoma, hematoma -

onym name, word synonym, antonym, homonym -opia eye defect myopia, nyctalopia, hyperopia -opsy examination biopsy, autopsy, necropsy -or a person who inventor,

legislator, translator -ory relating to armory, dormitory, laboratory -osis process, diseased condition diagnosis, prognosis, neurosis, psychosis -ostomy/otomy surgical colostomy,

lobotomy, craniotomy -ous full of hazardous, humorous, wondrous -path one who engages in homeopath, naturopath, psychopath -pathy feeling, diseased sympathy, apathy,

neuropathy -phile one who loves bibliophile, audiophile, pyrophile -phobia abnormal fear of acrophobia, claustrophobia, xenophobia -phone sound homophone, telephone,

microphone -phyte plant, to grow zoophyte, cryptophyte, epiphyte -plegia paralysis paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiplegia -plegic one who is paralyzed paraplegic, technoplegic,

quadriplegic -pnea air, spirit apnea, hyperpnea, orthopnea -scopy/scope visual exam arthroscopy, gastroscopy, microscope -scribe/script to write transcript, describe,

manuscript -sect to cut dissect, insect, bisect -ship state or condition of, skill of authorship, citizenship, friendship -sion state or quality confusion, depression, tension -some

characterized by, group of cumbersome, quarrelsome, foursome -sophy/sophic wisdom, knowledge philosophy, theosophy, anthroposophic -th state or quality depth, length,

strength -tion state or quality attention, caution, fascination -tome/tomy to cut hysterectomy, epitome, tonsillotome -trophy nourishment, growth atrophy, hypertrophy,

dystrophy -tude state, condition or quality fortitude, gratitude, magnitude -ty state, condition or quality ability, honesty, loyalty -ular relating to or resembling cellular, circular,

muscular -uous state or quality of arduous, tumultuous, virtuous -ure action, condition closure, erasure, failure -ward specifies direction backward, eastward, homeward -ware

things of the same type or material hardware, software, kitchenware -wise in what manner of direction clockwise, lengthwise, otherwise -y made up of, characterized brainy, fruity,

gooey

Putting it all together?

Priceless. Although, it also helps to

know how parts of speech work.

Remember…

Prefix = affects the meaning of the root.

Root = carries the meaning of the word.

Suffix = determines the way the word is

used in a sentence.

A Final Tip…Make your book work for you!

Textbook Aids and Specialized Vocabulary

• Textbooks usually explain specialized vocabulary (words that

relate to a specific academic discipline) when it is introduced.

They may contain the following aids:

– Boldfaced print that emphasizes words when they first appear

– Definitions in the margins of the reading itself

– “Key words and concepts” sections at the end of the chapter

– Vocabulary questions in the chapter reviews

– Glossaries at the end of the chapter and/or at the end of the

book

Putting it all TogetherContext Clues

•Definition and synonym clues

•Example clues

•General information clues

•Contrast clues

Word Parts •Prefixes

•Roots

•Suffixes

Four Main Parts of Speech•Verbs

•Nouns

•Adjectives

•Adverbs

Dictionary Skills•Parts of dictionary entries

•Finding the correct

dictionary meaning from the

context of the reading

Textbook Aides and

Specialized Vocabulary•Recognizing textbook

vocabulary aids

•Organizing a system for

learning specialized

vocabulary