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Package Contents

Pedagogy

Song

Kinesthetics

Dramatization

Visuals

Manipulatives

Careful Word Definition

Logical Presentation

Guided Student Notes

Social Interaction

Individual Reflection


 

 


word definition

Careful Word Definition

Half the battle in the acquisition of knowledge is a clear understanding of words. Learning a subject is learning a language. Parroting back definitions is never enough. A fuzzy comprehension of key vocabulary makes it difficult for students to gain from classroom discussion. Looking through the "fuzzy" glasses of weak word definitions, their entire class experience becomes fuzzy, so they find themselves confused and discouraged. Since they DON'T understand, they may wrongly conclude that they CAN'T understand and give up trying.

It is in the best interest of all concerned that a teacher pay careful attention to a student's acquisition of basic vocabulary. When one is new to a subject, it takes more than just a cursive reading of a definition to comprehend its meaning. The concept a word represents must be studied thoroughly enough to integrate the word into one's working vocabulary. Only then will a student be able to think with it and engage profitably in further discussion with people who are fluent in the subject language.

HOLY MOL-EE! takes defining words very seriously. Wherever the comprehension of a word can be augmented through knowledge of word history, the roots are given. (This is conveniently presented to you as a teacher in the Teaching Outline.) Whatever can be done to add concreteness and depth to a student's experience of a word is done through the incorporation of song, kinesthetics, dramatization, visuals, manipulatives, and other learning modalities as necessary. When students develop strong definitions of words early in their study, they progress more rapidly through the remainder of the curriculum and enjoy the experience more.