Markkula Center of Applied Ethics

Overall Program

Character Based Literacy Glossary

Download a PDF version of the glossary.

READING ACTIVITIES
Code Title Description
  Read Aloud Teacher reads the text aloud, demonstrating appropriate tone and emphasis, observation of punctuation, etc. Teacher "thinks out loud" during the reading to model the mental processes of active reading.
gr Guided Reading Small groups of students read texts chosen by the teacher on the basis of interest and reading ability. Students then have various tasks based on these books. This text might be addition to the core text or might replace the core text.
lc Literature Circles Students choose their own books from a selection presented by the teacher. Students are then grouped by text and have various individual and group tasks based on these books. This text might be addition to the core text or might replace the core text.
rw Reading Workshop Students choose books and work on them independently. Individual teacher conferences are important in this arrangement.
dear Drop Everything and Read A sustained, silent reading program in which the entire school reads for a set amount of time.
MAJOR WRITTEN PRODUCTS
Auto Autobiography A student-written essay about his or her own life.
Bio Biography The story of someone's entire life, either true or fictional (for our purposes).
Story Short Story A story consisting of a series of conflicts rising to a climax, ending with a resolution of the conflict. Should have elements of plot, setting, character, and theme.
cnf Creative Non-Fiction Using factual events as a springboard to write what is essentially fiction.
Analytic Essay Analytic Essay An essay which breaks down and examines a process, action or product.
Expo Essay Expository Essay An essay which explains a subject. Its purpose is merely to make something clear to the reader.
Report Research Report An essay which involves research and notation of sources.
Persuasive Essay Persuasive Essay An essay whose purpose is to persuade a reader to a point of view or action.
Speech Speech A prepared oral presentation which could be analytic, expository, persuasive, etc.
Tech Report Technical Report A written work which deals with the operation of machinery, complex processes, or technical/scientific subjects which frequently require the use of charts and diagrams.
BusLtr Business Letter A formal letter requiring accepted format and stressing clarity and brevity.
ONGOING PROCESSES
Code Title Description
timeline Timeline, linear or spatial A graphic representation of events in chronological order, used to help students keep track of events in text. Generally posted on wall of classroom to assist entering students to grasp the text.
newsline Newsline or Headings A series of statements similar to newspaper headlines which serve the purpose of a timeline. Generally posted on wall of classroom to assist entering students to grasp the text.
omp Open Mind Portrait A type of graphic organizer which depicts what is going on "inside a character's head." Generally posted on classroom wall to assist entering students in understanding text.
map Geographical or Mental Map Geographical map of the setting of a story. Generally posted on classroom wall to assist entering students in understanding text. Mental maps show relations of concepts to each other in a graphic organizer "web" format.
storyboard Storyboard A process borrowed from film production in which major scenes of a movie are represented in cartoon form in chronological order, thus assisting comprehension of the storyline.
wordwall Wordwall A listing of words on the wall of the classroom. Could be list of difficult words, new words from text, or terms necessary to write an essay. It is used as a reference to increase use of the words and thus increase vocabulary.
book Scrap Book or Memory Book A collection of items which the student could bring to class or produce in a class activity. The purpose is to connect students' actions and experiences with the text.
postcards Postcards Student-created postcards, with graphic and/or written message, derived from text being read. Could be "from a character," "to a character" or addressed to some third party, expressing the reader's reaction to a portion of the text.
kwl Know Want to know Learned Graphic Organizer A graphic organizer with three columns, What I Know, What I Need to Know, and What I have Learned. Used to structure information gathering. The last column is filled in new items are added to the other columns as the lessons progress.
cartoon Cartoon A drawing depicting a significant portion/aspect of the text.
life Lifeline

A timeline of a character's life, or the student's life. Dates are marked, with important events noted.
VISUAL ORAL PROCESSES
Code Title Description
omp Open Mind Portrait A type of graphic organizer which depicts what is going on "inside a character's head." General posted on classroom wall to assist entering students in understanding text.
sketch Sketch and Stretch A visual product, such as a drawing or collage, which expresses the theme of a story or some other similar abstraction such as conflicts.
cartoon Cartoon A drawing depicting a significant portion/aspect of the text.
cubing Cubing A student work project in which each student makes a six-sided figure with the information on the sides of the cube. The purpose of the activity is to have students explore a concept from different points of view. For example, reasons for and against a proposition, comparisons between characters, associations with an event, synonyms and antonyms for a given word.
g6 Six Graphic Organizers Six helpful graphic organizers: Character Trait Map; Beginning, Middle and End Map; Setting Map; Character Interaction Map; Plot Profile Map; and the "What?" graphic organizer.
mainidea Main Idea Chart A graphic organizer which relates main ideas to supporting concepts.
ads Advertisements Drawings or other graphics to advertise the text or some portion of aspect of it.
posters Posters Various Posters to represent aspects of the text. Problem-Solution, Character, Plot Sequence, etc.
layout Layout Magazine page layouts to illustrate an article (never to be written) in a real or fictional magazine. Follows the format of a magazine such as Time or People. Will have sketched graphics and indication of text material.
retelling Retelling Students tell the content of the story/essay they are going to write three times to other students. This clarifies the content.
theater Reader's Theater Students use a script in a read-aloud format. Script can be student-produced or published.
bmark Bookmark Students create bookmarks which contain illustrations and words relevant to the book. Could be vocabulary, them, memory aids, etc.
prop Prop, Display, Object Realia. Students or teacher brings objects related to text into class for examination.
collage Collage Graphic composed of pictures and objects cut out of print sources such as magazines.
rap Rap Contemporary rhythmic speech used to involve students in explication of text.
show Show A drama or skit presented by students illustrating some point in the text.
sequel Sequel Students produce some product which indicates what happens in a "next chapter" after the book ends.
mobile Mobile A collection of objects attached to each other in a moveable manner which expresses the relation of the objects to each other.
box Story Box A diorama.
media Multi-Media Presentation Use of slides, PowerPoint, sound, etc. to present concepts regarding the text.
film film plan or script Plan or script reflects scenes from the text, perhaps the events of a chapter in the text. Can be used for Readers' Theater.
magazine Magazine Create magazine whose content reflects various aspects of the text. Could have interviews with characters, recipes for dinners described in text, etc.
radio Radio Program The outline or script for a radio program recreating portions of text.
DAILY WRITING PRODUCTS
Code Title Description
snapshot Snapshot A paragraph which "freezes" an event like a snapshot (OK, maybe more like a really short video). It describes exactly what occurred at the moment.
throughshot Throughshot A paragraph which freezes a moment, and goes further to explain what the writer thought and felt at the moment.
poem poem Poetry to reflect reaction to text. Poetry is built on metaphor and simile, not merely rhyming sounds.
dejournal Double entry Journal A two column journal kept by student. In column 1 are listed quotations or events. Students respond in column 2.
simj Simulated Journal The imaginary diary of a character.
djournal Dialogue Journal The student asks a character questions and records answers, or gives responses to characters and events as a dialogue with someone.
log Reading Log Student-maintained records of titles and pages read.
c? Comment and Question Students keep notes as reading. Comments on the quality of the story, opinion of characters, and poses questions about what is not understood.
qwrite Quick Write A writing assignment of five to ten minutes on a teacher-given subject. The purpose is to get the writing muscles warmed up.
cards Postcards Student-created postcards, with written message, derived from text being read. Could be "from a character" or express the reader's reaction ot a portion of the text.
letter Letters Correspondence between the student and another real or imaginary person, such as a character in the text, or the author.
WORD STUDY AND CONVENTIONS
woe Woe Is I A published literacy program for secondary students.
DOL Daily Oral Language Nothing is perfect - and this entry proves the point in this case.
Checklist Editor's Checklist Student/teacher produced list of the student's common errors, to be used by the student in editing work.
W3 Words, Words, Words A published literacy program for secondary students.
L! Language! A published literacy program for secondary students.
WTW Words Their Way A published literacy program for secondary students.
phAZ Phonics from A-Z A book containing a compilation of activities to assist low-level readers in basic sight-sound skills, word recognition and spelling.
instant Instant Words The list of the 240 basic words compiled by Dr. Fry.
syn Synthetic Phonics Approaching phonics instruction with blending sounds together to form words and pseudowords.
ana Analytic Phonics Approaching phonics instruction by breaking up words in parts, including syllables and individual sounds.
phono Phonograms The smallest units of sound in a language which have meaning.
roots+ Roots and Affixes Study of root words and prefixes and suffixes which change their meaning.


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