Power Word Investigations
Word Detectives Power Word Investigations are NOT phonics lessons.
Phonology still plays a role – but this is the point when pronunciation is driven by structure. The shift from practical to practicality represents a shift in STRESS which leads to a shift in SOUNDS.
This is the point when morphology and etymology take over to build academic vocabulary in a POWERFUL way.
This is the point when ALL components of literacy begin to intertwine in a way that sets students up for long-term academic success:
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Phonology
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Morphology
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Etymology
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Orthography
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Semantics
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Syntax
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Written Expression
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Comprehension
What do these investigations look like?
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“Word of the Day” or “Word of the Week” format
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Cross-curricular Tier 2 academic vocabulary organized by connected patterns
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Definitions and example sentences designed for middle school and high school students of ALL ability levels
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Synonyms, antonyms, and Spanish cognates for each Power Word
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Word matrices and word sums to build a connected “word family” for each Power Word
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Morphology-based components that explore meaning, structure, and history connections
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Brief introductions to the Power Word Clues (morphemes) that compose the structure of the Power Word.
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Grammar, usage, and sentence-writing extensions
These components work together in leading to the ultimate goal – an advanced level of comprehension powerful enough to gain the knowledge and skills that will propel students from their formal education to a lifetime of learning.