Final Reflection: Blogger This is Not Goodbye!

            As I was creating my vocabulary blog entries throughout the semester, I noticed that many of the word I selected were based upon what was going on in my own life. For example, several words that I choose to learn more about were related to the home purchasing process that I was going through. I wanted to gain a better grasp on the home buying experience and thought that I should know the words well and could incorporate them into my own learning experience using our blogs. Several other of the words that I selected came from watching TV or movies, when I could pause and rewind words that I was unsure of and make note of them for my journal. What I found very interesting was that very few of the words I included in my vocabulary journal came for a dialogue conversation with others. I am not sure if this is because I could not remember the words long enough after a conversation or if new words just seem to jump out at me more when I am just docile and listening to others speak. I also noticed that I selected words that I could use again rather than just selecting big, funny sounding words that did not relate to my own life.

            I benefited from keeping a vocabulary journal in several ways. First, I became more conscience of the words that people were using around me. For example, when I was sitting in a professional development on the first Thanksgiving, I heard the term fowl used for the first time. Others seemed to know the word, but I had to use context clues to help me decipher the meaning. Later that evening I went home to look up the meaning of the word to see what the lecturer was actually talking about. In some respects, I forced myself to better understand unknown words, were in the past I would often not care or seem interested in looking up the meaning of unknown or new words. Second, I was able to learn a lot more about important events that were happening in my life such as purchasing a house. Most of the words that I did select had significant meaning to my life and I benefited from learning more about these words.

Prior to taking this course, I had not had a formal vocabulary or spelling test assignment since my high school days.  In high school, I found vocabulary and spelling exams to be the easiest types of exams because I had a stellar memory and could memorize almost anything.  I would study the night before or even ten minutes before the exam and store the information into my short-term memory, take the exam and then let all of the newly gained knowledge drip out of my brain.   As a secondary educator who frequently gives vocabulary exams, it was very interesting taking a step back into the role of the student. The quizzes made me think deeply on how my own students learn how to study and prepare for exams.  I do not want my own students to just quickly memorize the terms and forget them the next day. Taking vocabulary tests added to my own word learning by allowing me to change the way that I studied. Instead of studying the hour before, I started studying several days before the exam, giving myself more time to become familiar with the term and meaning. I found that studying days in advanced help me to store the definitions in my long term memory and that I remember several of the words meanings from the beginning of the semester.

Now that our semester is coming to an end, I have been thinking more about how I will encounter and remember new vocabulary words. During the course, I downloaded the Dictionary.com application on my smart phone so that I could look up definitions to unknown words I heard at anytime. I probably would have never downloaded this application if it were not for our vocabulary journal assignment. I will still use my dictionary application to look up unknown words. I am not sure that I will keep making blog entries; however, I will probably make notes of vocabulary words in my daily planner to keep track of new words. It was fun finding corky, new, and interesting words throughout the semester. I will need to find a new audience to share my new words with. I am sure my boyfriend and mom will make a great new audience along with my students.

            What I really liked about the vocabulary journal is that it was easy to keep up to date.  I could log into any computer at anytime I heard a new word and log into the Blogger website and write a journal entry.  I think that many of my students would absolutely have a great interest in using a website such as Blogger to keep track of vocabulary words.  If I had more free time, I would have loved to have viewed my peer’s blogs to see the exciting words that they were learning each week. It was awesome being in control of your own learning and this blog motivated to look up words that I probably would have never taken the tine to do before this assignment.

15.2 Bionic

When and where did I find this word: I first heard this word during the Thanksgiving break while I was watching TV. The first time I heard it on the Oprah Winfrey Show (2010) when she was interviewing the "Bionic Man." The second time I heard the word used was in the film "Employee of the Month" (2008). Based on what I know of the Bionic Man, I believe the word bionic has to do with strength or being a super human.

What the word means: According to Dictionary.com (2010), bionic is an adjective that describes a human who has electrical or mechanical parts to assist the body during dangerous tasks to make the body seem as if it is super human in performing tasks that are not typical of the human body. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bionic

My level of Familiarity: I have heard of the Bionic Man and Bionic Women because I know they were TV characters is an older TV show that was on before I was born. I knew that the word had to do with some type of strength as the bionic characters had enormous strength and were superheros. I did not know the first part of the definition that describes electrical or mechanical parts that assist the body. I am reminded of when I was in first grade and I used to watch the Power Rangers. The Power Rangers had a huge electrical fighting machine that they would use to fight which is a bionic mechanical device shown in the image above.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, this term describes strength and was a popular TV character that most of my parents generation is very familiar with, and thus know the meaning of bionic. As our society is fascinated with superheros, I think I should understand this term well.

 

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, I think others should know this well because it is a term that many of our parents know because of popular culture and TV. Thus, I think that others should know the meaning when it comes up on TV, reruns, or in conversation.

15.1 Serendipity

When and where did I find this word: I heard this word last Sunday when I was watching TV. I was watching the movie "Employee of the Month" (2008) and heard the term serendipitous and thought that it would be a great word to learn more about.

What the word means: According to dictionary.com (2010), serendipity is a noun that means discovering something by accident or often refers to good luck and good fortune. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/serendipity+

My level of Familiarity: I first heard the term serendipity when I saw a movie with the title "Serendipity." The whole movie was about time travel. I was very young at the time I saw the movie and don't think I ever put the title and message of the movie together to understand the term serendipity. I did not have much understanding of the word prior to looking it up for my blog. The picture to the side is of the actors from the movie "Serendipity."

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, this term has been used often in film and TV and thus must be a fairly common word. I like that serendipity can also be a term to describe good luck. I think I should know this word because can use this word to describe events in history that happened by accident.

 

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, I think that others should know the term well because often times we encounter situations that accidentally happen and can be described by the term serendipity.

14.3 Prima Ballerina

When and Where did I Find this Word:  I heard this word today with my boyfriends mother who during the Nutcracker by the RPO kept commenting on how beautiful the prima ballerina was. I have heard the term many times but had always just assumed that I knew the meaning of the word. I decided to look up the word to see if I knew the exact meaning.

What does the word mean: According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010) the term prima ballerina is a noun and is the lead ballerina in a ballet company. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prima+ballerina?show=0&t=1290992359

My familiarity with the word: I thought that the prima ballerina was the head or lead dancer, but after seeing the Nutcracker today and the many lead dancers, I was confused if I had a correct understanding of the term. The picture illustrates one of the many prima ballerinas who are casted in the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker travels through many lands with different ballerinas as the main focus of each dance.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: As a dancer in a dance company, I do think that I should know the term prima ballerina well. Although I am not a ballerina, it will still help me understand other dance companies and dancers roles better.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: No, If you are not interested in ballet or do not plan on seeing ballets, I do not think that you would need to know this word well. It is more of a specialized term that people who enjoy the fine arts would probably know.

14.2 Flash Mob

When and Where did I Find this Word:  Today I searched in my browser for "new words 2009" and I clicked on the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. I searched through the list of words and was struck by the term "flash mob." Yesterday I was just watching flash mobs on Youtube.com. I was surprised to see that this word was a newly added word to the dictionary. As a dancer, I was so happy to see this word in the dictionary! :-)

What does the word mean: According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010), a flash mob is a noun and "a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash+mob?show=0&t=1290796921

My familiarity with the word: I first came across the term flash mob when one of my facebook friends posted a link to a flash mob at Ohio State on Facebook. I watched the video link and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a group of people dancing. I selected this term because yesterday I watched a flash mob of 50 people freezing in a grocery store for 5 minutes. I wanted to learn more about the specifics of a flash mob and now know that it is an indicated action and can be much more than just dancing.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes,  I should know this well because I would love to create my own flash mob with the dance company that I dance in!

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, often times random people are caught off guard by flash mobs that start out of no where. I think that this flash mob trend is growing more popular because of internet video sharing websites and I think we will be seeing a lot more of them in the future. Many of these videos have become internet sensations. For a more detailed look at a flash mob, please see the link I have attached. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLCZOG202k

14.1 Bullycide

When and Where did I Find this Word:  Today I have not experienced any exciting new words because I have been searching for bargains online. In search of an interesting word, I typed "new words to dictionary 2010" into my browser. I clicked on the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and found a list of  entrants for a newly added words contest for 2010. A few words caught my interest such as the word bullyside.  

What does the word mean: The term bullyside is a noun and according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010), the term means "suicide by a victim of bullying." http://www3.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/newword_display_recent.php

My familiarity with the word: In the bast I have heard of cyber bullying, but the word bullyside is completely new to me. I have heard in the media recently of many young people who have committed suicide because of cruel acts of cyper bullying.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, as an educator I should be aware of bullyside. Many of my students come to school frustrated or tell me of events that happen outside of school. Students often turn to teachers for help or advice. Teachers and school personnel should be aware of bullyside and how constant threats and torment can be completely devastating and hurt students to the point where they are willing to hurt themselves or others. The picture above shows an example of cyber bullying.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, as more people turn to electronic media to communicate, we have seen an increase in the amount of bullying that takes place online. Parents, school personnel, and even children should be made aware of cyber bullying and bullyside to try to prevent such cruel acts from occuring.

13.3 Bamboozle

When and Where did I Find this Word:  While surfing on Dictionary.com, I came across the word of the day section. The word posted for today did not interest me, however Sunday's word, bamboozle caught my interest because it just sounded amusing and fun to say.  

What does the word mean: According to Dictionary.com (2010) (where I found the word), bamboozle is a very that means "to deceive or get the best of someone" or to trick or mystify someone. http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2010/11/21.html

My familiarity with the word: I have heard the word bamboozle used on TV shows, but I was not quiet sure of the meaning. Once I found out the meaning, I do think that the meaning matches well with the obscurity of the word. I bamboozled my brother on April fool's day. The word just seems to fit very well with the idea of pranking or tricking someone.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, I think I should know this word well because I like to play practical jokes with my family. Now I can tell my family that I bamboozled them when we play jokes on each other. I have attached a picture of fools gold, which as bamboozled many who thought they found the real thing, gold!

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, I think this is a fun word that others should now because people often play jokes on each other or are deceived by what we see. This would be a great word for others to use when they watch a magic show or play an April fools joke.

13.2 Escrow

When and Where did I Find this Word:  I met with my mortgage consultant last week and we talked about approving my mortgage.  He used a whole bunch of words in our conversation that I have heard other people use, but I was not quiet sure of the meaning. One of the words he discussed with me was escrow.  

 

What does the word mean: According to Dictionary.com (2010), an escrow is an agreement or contract by a third party that guarantees a fulfillment of a condition or payment. In my case, my escrow was an agreement to pay for my mortgage loan and the interest from the loan. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/escrow

My familiarity with the word:  I have heard my parents and aunts and uncles use the word escrow before in regards to purchasing homes. However, I associated the word escrow with home purchasing, but I had no idea what the actual meaning of the word was. It was a good thing I had family members with me who could explain these new real estate vocabulary words to me as I signed important paperwork.

 

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well:  Yes, as a first time home buyer, I should be familiar with important words that are associated with the home buying process. The term escrow showed up on many of the paperwork forms that I needed to sign to be approved for a loan. Before signing paperwork of such importance, I think I should know the full meaning of words that I will be legally bound to.

 

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, I do believe that others should know that an escrow is basically a contract that you agree to. Although not everyone may purchase a house, an escrow can be a term that commits a person to a payment or contract of some sort. The picture I have inserted represents signing a contract and agreeing to fulfill that agreement.

13.1 Woad

When and Where did I Find this Word: Staying in the Thanksgiving spirit I decided to search for vocabulary terms that Colonial Americans would have used. I am currently teaching about Colonial America and my next lesson is about life in the colonies. I did an internet search for life in the colonies vocabulary. Several terms came up on a website and I found the word "woad" to be the most interesting so I selected it as my word. http://eev.liu.edu/kk/colonial/VOCABULARY%20WORDS%20FOR%20COLONIAL%20AMERICA.pdf 

 

What does the word mean: The word woad was under the category of colonial clothing. According to Dictionary.com, a woad is a European plant that blue dye is extracted from its leaves. Now for a brief history lesson; early colonists grew this plant so they could dye clothing. The picture below is of a woad plant. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/woad

My familiarity with the word: I had never heard the word woad prior to my search for terms having to do with colonial life. I think that this is an interesting word because I had always thought Indigo was used to make blue dye, but it is interesting to know that colonists used other dyes as well.

 

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: As a social studies teacher who will be leading a colonial day celebration with the whole school, I feel that I should know this word fairly well to be able to describe how people dressed during the Colonial Era and how they made clothing.

 

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: I do not think my own students will need to specifically know the word woad to understand key concepts about colonial life. I think it is a fun term for teachers and colonial historians to know. The average person will probably not need to know this word to understand how colonial people dressed.

12.2 Fowl

When and Where did I Find this Word: While I was at a professional development session at my school this past week on the topic of Thanksgiving, I was introduced to the word fowl. At first I was confused because I always thought this word was used to describe a disgusting spell or sight, however, I found a word I have heard with a meaning that I have not. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to learn more about fowl.

What does the word mean: From the presentation, I came to the understanding that a fowl was a type of bird. However, I wanted to make sure this was correct so I double checked with the trusty Dictionary.com. According to Dictionary.com, fowl is a noun and consists of "birds that are barnyard,  domesticated, or wild, as the duck, turkey, or pheasant." Now on Thanksgiving, you can say you are eating a fowl. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fowl

My familiarity with the word: I have never heard the term fowl used to describe "birds" prior to the presentation I attended on Thanksgiving. It does make sense that the turkey, chicken, and pheasant would all be categorized together and the term fowl does just that. My picture is of a Turkey or fowl being pardoned by George W. Bush.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, as a teacher who will teach about "what really happened" on the first Thanksgiving, I will need to know and be able to explain what a fowl is and that turkey fowl was not originally apart of the "first" thanksgiving with the Pilgrims as so many people believe.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, whether reading dinner menus, grocery shopping, or even teaching about Thanksgiving, the term fowl can be used almost on a regular basis and thus, others should know it well.

12.1 Phlebotomy

When and Where did I Find this Word: I first came into contact with this word today while reading a friends Facebook post that said, "I hate phlebotomy." I posted back that that sounded interesting but wish I knew what it meant. Other friends questioned if this meant taking someones blood.

What does the word mean: I decided to look the word up in the dictionary so that I could find the precise meaning  of phlebotomy. According to Dictionary.com, the term phlebotomy is a noun which means "the act of opening a vein for letting blood as a therapeutic measure."http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Phlebotomy

My familiarity with the word: Prior to my Facebook perusing, I had never heard this term used before as it is not in my current schema. My friend works in a hospital and this word would be one that she would have to know for her profession.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: As a social studies teacher, I probably will probably never need to know anything about taking someones blood. I do not think that I should have to know such a specific word for taking blood, however, I should be familiar with the concept of opening a vein to extract blood.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Well, I would really hope that anyone in the medical field such as my own doctors would be familiar with such a medical technical term such as phlebotomy. However, I do not think that the average person will need to know this term "well" because hopefully most people do not have to go through the blood letting process.

10.1 Fizzle

When and Where did I Find this Word: I first heard this word two weeks ago at my dance practice with Converge Dance Company. One of the choreographers, Sarah Gullo said she wanted to create a dance to a "fizzle" story that one of her friends gave to her to create a piece around.

What does the word mean: Sarah defined the fizzle as a story that does not make sense. According to the Free Dictionary (2010), fizzle means "To fail or end weakly, especially after a hopeful beginning." I read the fizzle Sarah brought into practice. The story just starts and dis not make any sense. It looks like a poem, however, the story just goes on as one large paragaph. The story fizzles out with a promsing start and leaves the reader just as confused as they were when they started. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fizzle

 

My familiarity with the word: I have heard the word in regards to the meaning that something comes to an end. I have never heard the word in regards to a story that doesn't make sense.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, I believe that I should know this term well because I am participating in a dance that is based around a fizzle story. I should be able to tell others who watch the performance what a fizzle is and how it relates to the dance I am performing.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, as literacy educators, we should know that their is a type of story that is called a fizzle which does not make sense. We could have our students create fizzles or try to organize information to prevent their stories from becoming fizzles.

Strategy 2: DR/TA

What is the instructional strategy?

The instructional strategy I will have my students use to enhance students pre-reading of chapter three of African Americans and American Indians Fighting in the Revolutionary War by John Micklos Jr is called the Directed Reading/Thinking Activity or DR/TA.
Why does the strategy work?

The strategy works by allowing students to first consider what they already know about a particular topic and activate their own prior knowledge. The prompts ask students to preview the text so that they can look over titles, graphics and headings that the students might gloss over or skip entirely. The strategy forces students to take a closer look at the pages of a reading. Students are also required to make predictions or hypothesis about what they will read. Students often relate the word hypothesis with science class and in other content area teachers could use this strategy to get students thinking about making predictions.
How does it work?

1. The teacher will determine what she wants the students to know and understand from a selected text.
2. Students will write down what they already know about the texts topic either working independently or in a small group.
3. Students will write down what they think they will learn from the text.
4. Students will examine the text and note the title, subheadings, graphic aids, and any other text sections in the reading.
5. Students will then create a hypothesis or prediction about what they think they will read, which will help students plan and prepare for the text they are about to read.
6. Students will then read the assigned text and will reconsider the hypothesis that they created. Students will either agree or disagree with the hypothesis they created and adjust or rewrite a new hypothesis based upon the information they read in the text.
7. Lastly, students will write “What do you know you learned” in the graphic organizer. This will allow students another opportunity to think again about what they read and revise their understandings.

What It Looks Like: 

Directions: Before reading, answer questions 1-7 in the graphic organizer below. You will need the book African Americans and American Indians Fighting in the Revolutionary War chapter three to answer the questions. Answer questions 8-9 after you have completed the reading.

Statement/Question	Response
1. What I already know I know about African Americans who fought in the American Revolution:
2. What I think I know about African Americans who fought in the American Revolution:
3. What is the title?
4. What subheadings do I see?
5. What pictures/graphics are in the reading?
6. What other features do I notice in the reading?
7. What do I think the chapter is about? “Hypothesis”
After Reading: 8. Do I still agree with my hypothesis? If not how would I change it to fit with what I read?
9. What I know I learned from the reading:

Strategy 1: PreP

What is the instructional strategy?

The strategy that I will use is called “The Pre-Reading Plan (PreP). This strategy helps teachers assess students’ prior knowledge and vocabulary backgrounds on certain topics of study.  Students will use the strategy while reading chapters one and two in an expository text about The Declaration of Independence called The Declaration of Independence in Translation: What it Really Means.

Why does the strategy work?

The PreP strategy will allow my students to consider what they already know about The Declaration of Independence, which will set the stage for students to critically analyze the text. After students compile a list of what they know, students will reflect upon why or where they know the information from. This allows students to consider their own background knowledge and show students how to make connections to what they already know with the class content such as The Declaration of Independence.

How does it work?

1. I will begin by thinking of key vocabulary terms and concepts that students should understand when they are thinking about The Declaration of Independence. I most likely would want students to think of the words in the title to begin developing background knowledge and crafting ideas about the text.
2. Next I will ask the students a few sentences to generate and spark their prior knowledge. I will ask students questions with the key vocabulary words separated and then together. (e.g. “What comes to your mind when you think of independence? What comes to your mind when you think of a declaration? What comes to your mind when you think of The Declaration of Independence?”) These questions can be expressed verbally or on a handout sheet for students to consider.
3. Allow for some quiet time for students to independently write all of their associations and prior knowledge on either the chalkboard or on a handout where students can “dump” their knowledge.
4. Encourage students to share out their associations with the rest of the class. This will allow the teacher to get a quick assessment of what the students already know and let students teach and learn from each other.
5.  Have students reflect on their initial associations by asking questions such as “what made you think of…? Why did this response come to mind?” Have students talk in a group discussion about why they thought of their responses to the original prompt questions.
6. Conclude by asking if any students’ original thoughts on The Declaration of Independence have changed or if they can think of any new information about the topic through the class discussion.

What It Looks Like: 

Directions: Answer the following questions below by filling in as many words or ideas that you know about the terms below. Fill out the each section when your teacher instructs you to.

Section 1: What I Know

1. What comes to your mind when you think of independence?

2. What comes to your mind when you think of a declaration?

3. What comes to your mind when you think of The Declaration of Independence?

Section 2: Reflection on What I Know

4. Why did this response come to your mind?

5. Where have you heard or saw information on The Declaration of Independence?

Section 3: Do I Now Know Anything New or Different?

6. Can you think of any other information you now know about this topic?

7. Have your thoughts or opinions changed since answer questions in section 1?

9:2 Mortgage

When and Where did I Find this Word: I heard this word repeatedly over the past three weeks in discussion with my mortgage broker and my real estate agent. This past Friday, I found out that the mortgage company would not cover the full amount of my load because the appraisal come in much lower than my offer price.

What does the word mean: My own thoughts on a mortgage is a payment or loan on a large payment item such as a home. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a mortgage is "a conveyance of or lien against property (as for securing a loan) that becomes void upon payment or performance according to stipulated terms." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mortgage

My familiarity with the word: I have heard the word used by my parents and relatives in the past about the monthly payments that they make. Since I was going to take on a mortgage, I wanted to become more familiar with the meaning, especially because my mortgage was affected by the recent appraisal on the home I was interested in purchasing.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, I should know this word well because I am going through the process of purchasing a home and should know the vocabulary that goes along with the home  buying process. The chart above shows the interest rates over the past thirty years.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, others should know this term well because most people do need to take a mortgage out when they purchase a home.

9:1 Appraisal

When and Where did I Find this Word: I heard the word "appraisal" used last week in a conversation that I had with my realtor. Unfortunately, the home which I had purchased was appraised under my purchase price and the mortgage company will not let me get a loan without me putting a lot more money done due to the new home regulations.

What does the word mean: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2010), appraisal is a noun which means " a valuation of property by the estimate of an authorized person." In my case, the appraisal was done on a home property by a agent hired by Wells Fargo. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appraisal

My familiarity with the word: I have heard the used many times before in conversations about houses. However, I was not familiar with the new appraisal policies which made me want to question and learn more about the meaning of the word. I now know more about the appraisal process for my next house hunt.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: I do believe that I should know this word well because I need to make an informed decision when I purchase my home. The current home that I purchased is not a good value because the appraisal came in very low, much lower than what I offered on the home. Next time I buy a house, I will be more conscience about pricing so that I make a good investment. 

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, with the new appraisal rules, I feel that all potential home buyers be aware of home buying vocabulary such as "appraisal." To make a good purchase, one must understand the appraisal price of a home to make a good offer price.

The picture to the right is the home that I put an offer on that had an outrageously low appraisal.

8:2 Peculation

When and Where did I Find this Word: I found the word today in a Google search for the word of the day. My search brought up the Merriam-Webster Dictionary which showed the days word as "peculation."

What does the word mean: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2010), the noun peculation means embezzlement. For example, the casino bookie was accused of peculation. Retrieved at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/. Also see http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peculation

My familiarity with the word: I have never heard the word peculation before my search today. I have heard of embezzlement before but would have never been able to guess on my own the meaning of peculation.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: I do not believe this is a word that I should know well. I cannot remember the last time that I ever used the word embezzlement. I do remember hearing the word embezzle in the Flintstones movie by the Hallie Barry character. The picture to the right is of the Hally Berry Character who went to prison in the film for peculation or embezzlement. The likelihood that I will use the word peculation is very minute.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: No, I do not think that that others will need to know this word well. Possibly business or economics teachers could benefit from knowing this word, however, I do not think this word or comes up very frequently in content area classes.

8:1 Cinematic

When and Where did I Find this Word: Tonight I was watching an episode of Outsourced on NBC and a commercial caught my interest because of a specific word. The commercial described a new TV show on the network as "cinematic."

What the Word means: Cinematic is an adjective. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Cinematic means relating, suitable, or presented as a motion picture. In the context of the commercial, I believe that the advertisers meant that the film was worthy of airing on television. NBC's use of the term cinematic does not align with the definition giving by the Merriam Webster dictionary because the show is not in any form a "motion picture," rather it is a television show. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematic

My level of Familiarity: I have heard the term cinematic before and am very familiar with the term cinema. I know that the word cinema has to do with film and I believed that the word "cinematic" also was connected to film. I was curious about the definition because I had always thought that anything cinema related was about movies/film. The picture to the right is of a movie theatre which is what I often picture when I hear the word "cinematic."

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: Yes, I do think I should know this term well because if I do eventually design an assignment that allows for students to create their own motion pictures or video productions, I could use the word "cinematic" to describe the video making process or include it in an evaluation.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: Yes, I do think that others should know this word well because as literacy instructors, we will need to teach multi-modal aspects of literacy. Film and cinema is a growing part of using contemporary media for literacy instruction.

6:2 Vicarious

When and Where did I Find this Word: Last week, while reading chapter 30 in the Handbook of Reading Research, I came across the word vicarious. The chapter discussed comprehension instruction and relating text to students prior knowledge. "Thus, the richer a child's world experiences and vicarious experiences (e.g., through stories and high-quality television), the richer the child's schematic knowledge base" (Pressley, 2000, p. 549).

What the Word means: After analyzing the word vicarious in its context, I believe that the word means, well-developed and rich. Unfortunately, my attempt to guess the meaning of the word was not correct. According to dictionary.com, the adjective vicarious means "taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute". http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vicarious 

My level of Familiarity: I had never heard or seen the word vicarious until I encountered it in the Pressley reading. I tried to make an attempt to understand what the word meant on my own, however, the context around the word did not give me enough sufficient information to make a correct educational guess at the words meaning. The picture to the side of the shells and cheese represents the idea that one can vicarious different cheeses used within the pasta such as Cheddar or Swiss cheese.

Do I Believe this is a Word that I should Know Well: I somewhat believe that I should know the well because it is another word for "interchangeable or substitute." However, the likely hood that I will use the word vicarious on a regular basis is very slim.

Do You Believe this is a Word You Want Others to Know Well: I think others should have an idea of what the word means because it appeared in our assigned readings and as teachers, we commonly use the word substitute, and vicarious is another word we can use to express the same meaning.