Word Study

Something beneficial for children to do is study the nature of the English language. We have so many words that come from different origins and roots, but many words have also changed over time. Reading may come easier for students if they use etymology to understand the origins of words.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

Something fun you can do at home is go to the online etymology dictionary and look up the origins of words.

http://www.etymonline.com/

What a way for students to study root words, and look at prefixes and suffixes!

For example: You can type in the word instruction, the dictionary pulls up this definition:

instruction (n.) 

c.1400, instruccioun, "action or process of teaching," from Old French instruccion (14c.), from Latin instructionem (nominative instructio) "building, arrangement, teaching," from past participle stem of instruere"arrange, inform, teach," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + struere "to pile, build" (see structure (n.)). Meaning "an authoritative direction telling someone what to do; a document giving such directions," is early 15c. Related: Instructions.

Grammar

Often students get confused when we tell students to "sound the word out." Often words are set up in complex ways that we are unable to just go sound by sound to get the pronunciation.

The following website offers some helpful hints with grammar to remember if the letter see should sound like /K/; like in the word /cat/ or if it should sound like /s/; like in the word /city/.

http://speakspeak.com/resources/pronunciation/when-to-pronounce-the-letter-c-as-s-or-k

When to pronounce the letter ‘c’ as /s/ or /k/

In English the letter ‘c’ is mostly pronounced as a /k/ sound.

We can also pronounce it as an /s/ sound.

Listen to the difference:

/k/ car	car
/s/ city	city

The rule

• When ’c‘ comes directly before the letters ‘e‘, ‘i‘ or ‘y‘ we use the /s/ sound
• in other cases we use a /k/ sound.

Words containing the letter ‘c’ pronounced as /k/

word	pronunciation	why?
car	car	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
cut	cut	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
cool	cool	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
curtain	curtain	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
carpet	carpet	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
confuse	confuse	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’
caught	caught	because it is not followed directly by ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’

Words containing the ‘c’ pronounced as /s/

word	pronunciation	why?
city	city	because it comes directly before ‘i’
cent	cent	because it comes directly before ‘e’
dancing	dancing	because it comes directly before ‘i’
ice	ice	because it comes directly before ‘e’
certain	certain	because it comes before directly ’e’
face	face	because it comes directly before ‘e’
receive	receive	because it comes directly before ‘e’

Exceptions

One notable exception is the word soccer (we pronounce the first and second ‘c’ as a /k/ sound: /sokə/).

Another exception is muscle /mʌsəl/.

New Students

All the Jefferson Bears have been working hard on advancing to higher reading levels. Students have set goals for their reading level at this time of year according to the Fountas & Pinnell Reading Level Expectations. We would like to see students at these levels by the beginning of February.
1st grade- Level H
2nd grade- Level L
3rd Grade- Level O



I have a few new students I'd like to welcome also!
1st grade
Jakora D.


2nd grade
Ayla S.
Crystal R.

Keep up the great work Jefferson Bears!