Explanation of Terms Used
Balanced Literacy
Quite simply, balanced literacy is a framework that gives equal attention to reading and writing instruction. As reading and writing are interdependent, instruction in one supports learning in the other.
5 Components of Reading
The five components of reading are phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
The five components of reading are phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Three Cueing Systems Used to Identify Words During Reading
In the act of reading we use the knowledge stored in our cortex to constantly reach out and predict the meanings of words in the sentences we are about to read. Three cueing systems provide the brain clues (or cues) as to what the words might be: (a) semantic, (b) syntactic, and (c) grapho-phonetic.
1. Semantic. The semantic cueing system is the most efficient of the three in terms of speed and space required in working memory to recognize words. Semantics refers to meaning. As you read, you use context and background knowledge to identify words and figure out what the next word might be. For example:
The monkey ate a _ _ _ _ _ _.
You most likely know what the next word is in the sentence above. As your brain read the sentence it focused on the word ‘monkey’ and ‘ate”. This narrowed the possibilities of the word to something monkeys eat. Based on your knowledge of monkey stereotypes, cartoons, and Tarzan movies you most likely inserted the word ‘banana’. If you did not immediately insert the word ‘banana’ your brain would have then used the first letter to figure it out. If the word ‘banana’ fit with what went before and after you would have continued. We use the knowledge in our head to predict meanings and confirm meanings or make revisions during the reading process.
The monkey ate a b _ _ _ _ _.
2. Syntactic. Syntax has to do with the grammatical structure of the language. As your brain reads you also use your knowledge of grammar, sentence structure, word order, tense and plurality, prefixes and suffixes, nouns and verbs, and function words (prepositions, pronouns, etc.) to identify words. This is the second most efficient cueing system.
For example, in the monkey sentence above you focused on the word ‘monkey’ (noun) and ‘ate’ (verb). Your brain knew the missing word had to be a noun of some sort. Using syntax together with semantics you were able to easily fill in the missing word. This is how reading works. Your brain works holistically to create meaning with print.
3. Grapho-phonetic. ‘Grapho’ refers to symbols, ‘phono’ refers to sounds. The grapho-phonetic cueing systems uses letter-sounds to predict what the next word might be. Of the three cueing systems, this one is the least efficient. Why? It focuses on individual letters and letter patterns instead of words and ideas. Your working memory has very limited capacity. You can try to stuff a few letters in there, a few words, or a few ideas. But which would be the most efficient in terms of creating meaning with print? Let me give you a hint: An idea is much bigger than a letter. There are far more things contained in an idea than in a letter.
- Andrew Johnson
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-cueing-systems-used-identify-words-during-reading-johnson
In the act of reading we use the knowledge stored in our cortex to constantly reach out and predict the meanings of words in the sentences we are about to read. Three cueing systems provide the brain clues (or cues) as to what the words might be: (a) semantic, (b) syntactic, and (c) grapho-phonetic.
1. Semantic. The semantic cueing system is the most efficient of the three in terms of speed and space required in working memory to recognize words. Semantics refers to meaning. As you read, you use context and background knowledge to identify words and figure out what the next word might be. For example:
The monkey ate a _ _ _ _ _ _.
You most likely know what the next word is in the sentence above. As your brain read the sentence it focused on the word ‘monkey’ and ‘ate”. This narrowed the possibilities of the word to something monkeys eat. Based on your knowledge of monkey stereotypes, cartoons, and Tarzan movies you most likely inserted the word ‘banana’. If you did not immediately insert the word ‘banana’ your brain would have then used the first letter to figure it out. If the word ‘banana’ fit with what went before and after you would have continued. We use the knowledge in our head to predict meanings and confirm meanings or make revisions during the reading process.
The monkey ate a b _ _ _ _ _.
2. Syntactic. Syntax has to do with the grammatical structure of the language. As your brain reads you also use your knowledge of grammar, sentence structure, word order, tense and plurality, prefixes and suffixes, nouns and verbs, and function words (prepositions, pronouns, etc.) to identify words. This is the second most efficient cueing system.
For example, in the monkey sentence above you focused on the word ‘monkey’ (noun) and ‘ate’ (verb). Your brain knew the missing word had to be a noun of some sort. Using syntax together with semantics you were able to easily fill in the missing word. This is how reading works. Your brain works holistically to create meaning with print.
3. Grapho-phonetic. ‘Grapho’ refers to symbols, ‘phono’ refers to sounds. The grapho-phonetic cueing systems uses letter-sounds to predict what the next word might be. Of the three cueing systems, this one is the least efficient. Why? It focuses on individual letters and letter patterns instead of words and ideas. Your working memory has very limited capacity. You can try to stuff a few letters in there, a few words, or a few ideas. But which would be the most efficient in terms of creating meaning with print? Let me give you a hint: An idea is much bigger than a letter. There are far more things contained in an idea than in a letter.
- Andrew Johnson
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-cueing-systems-used-identify-words-during-reading-johnson
Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in a particular situation. Psychologist Albert Bandura described these beliefs as determinants of how people think, behave, and feel.
- Bandura A. Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies. Cambridge University Press; 1997.
Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in a particular situation. Psychologist Albert Bandura described these beliefs as determinants of how people think, behave, and feel.
- Bandura A. Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies. Cambridge University Press; 1997.