Glossary
Plain-language definitions for every term you will encounter. Browse by letter or filter by category.
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A
Analytic Phonics
A phonics approach where students analyze whole words to detect letter-sound patterns rather than sounding out letter by letter.
Phonics & DecodingAccuracy
The ability to read words correctly without errors. Accuracy is one of the three components of reading fluency.
FluencyAutomaticity
The ability to recognize words instantly without conscious effort, freeing mental resources for comprehension. Develops through repeated practice.
FluencyAuthor's Purpose
The reason an author wrote a text, commonly categorized as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
ComprehensionActivating Background Knowledge
A pre-reading strategy where the teacher helps students recall what they already know about a topic to prepare for new learning.
Instruction MethodsAnnotation
The practice of marking up a text with notes, highlights, questions, and observations during reading.
Instruction MethodsAlliteration
The repetition of the same beginning sound in a series of words, such as 'big brown bear.'
Phonics & DecodingAnalogy
Using a known word to decode an unknown word with a similar pattern.
Phonics & DecodingActive Reading
Engaging with a text purposefully by asking questions, making connections, and taking notes.
Instruction MethodsAnchor Chart
A visual reference created during a lesson and displayed in the classroom to support student learning.
Instruction MethodsB
Blend
Two or three consonants appearing together in a word where each consonant retains its own sound, such as 'bl' in 'black' or 'str' in 'string.'
Phonics & DecodingBossy R
A child-friendly term for r-controlled vowels. When 'r' follows a vowel, it 'bosses' the vowel into making a different sound.
Phonics & DecodingBase Word
A word that can stand alone and to which affixes can be added. Sometimes used interchangeably with root word, though root word can also refer to Latin or Greek roots.
Phonics & DecodingBlending
The skill of combining individual sounds together to pronounce a word. For example, blending /c/ /a/ /t/ to say 'cat.'
Phonics & DecodingBenchmark Assessment
A standardized assessment given at regular intervals to measure student progress against grade-level expectations.
AssessmentBalanced Literacy
An instructional approach that combines elements of phonics, guided reading, shared reading, independent reading, and writing.
Instruction MethodsC
Consonant Blend
Two or three consonant letters that appear together and each sound is heard, such as 'br,' 'fl,' or 'spl.' Different from a digraph, where letters make one sound.
Phonics & DecodingConsonant Cluster
Another term for consonant blend. A group of consonants that appear together in a word with each sound remaining distinct.
Phonics & DecodingConsonant Digraph
Two consonant letters that make one sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship,' 'ch' in 'chip,' or 'th' in 'thin.'
Phonics & DecodingCVC Word
A word with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, such as 'cat,' 'dog,' or 'sit.' CVC words are among the first words children learn to decode.
Phonics & DecodingCCVC
A word pattern with two consonants followed by a vowel and a consonant, such as 'stop' or 'frog.' More complex than CVC words.
Phonics & DecodingCVCC
A word pattern with a consonant, vowel, and two consonants at the end, such as 'last' or 'milk.' Introduces final blends.
Phonics & DecodingCVCe
A word pattern where a silent 'e' at the end makes the preceding vowel say its long sound, such as 'cake,' 'bike,' or 'home.' Also called magic e or silent e.
Phonics & DecodingClosed Syllable
A syllable that ends with a consonant, and the vowel typically makes its short sound, such as 'cat,' 'in,' or the first syllable in 'rabbit.'
Phonics & DecodingComprehension
The ability to understand, interpret, and draw meaning from text. It is the ultimate goal of reading.
ComprehensionCause and Effect
A text structure or comprehension skill that involves identifying why something happened (cause) and what happened as a result (effect).
ComprehensionCompare and Contrast
A comprehension skill and text structure that involves identifying similarities and differences between two or more things.
ComprehensionCaption
Text that accompanies a photo, illustration, or diagram and explains what it shows.
ComprehensionClose Reading
A careful, purposeful rereading of a text to analyze meaning, craft, and structure.
Instruction MethodsContext Clues
Information surrounding an unknown word in a text that helps the reader figure out the word's meaning.
ComprehensionCharacter
A person, animal, or figure in a story. Analyzing characters includes examining their traits, motivations, and changes.
LiteratureCharacter Trait
A quality that describes a character's personality, such as brave, curious, or generous. Inferred from actions, dialogue, and thoughts.
LiteratureConflict
The central problem or struggle in a story.
LiteratureClimax
The turning point or most intense moment in a story, where the conflict reaches its peak.
LiteratureCueing System
The sources of information readers use to figure out unknown words: meaning, structure, and visual.
Instruction MethodsConsonant-le Syllable
A syllable type found at the end of words where a consonant is followed by 'le,' such as 'ta-ble' or 'pur-ple.'
Phonics & DecodingChoral Reading
A fluency activity where a group of students read a text aloud together simultaneously.
FluencyD
Digraph
Two letters that together represent a single sound. Examples include 'sh,' 'ch,' 'th,' and 'wh' for consonant digraphs.
Phonics & DecodingDiphthong
A complex vowel sound that begins as one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable, such as 'oi' in 'coin' or 'ou' in 'house.'
Phonics & DecodingDecoding
The process of translating written text into spoken language by applying knowledge of letter-sound relationships. It is the fundamental skill in learning to read.
Phonics & DecodingDRA
Developmental Reading Assessment. An individualized assessment that measures oral reading fluency and comprehension to determine a student's reading level.
AssessmentDevelopmental Reading Assessment
The full name for DRA. A standardized tool that evaluates a student's reading level through oral reading and retelling.
AssessmentDolch Words
A list of 220 common words compiled by Edward Dolch in 1948. These words make up a large percentage of the text young children encounter.
FluencyDecodable Text
A text written specifically to practice letter-sound relationships that have been taught.
Instruction MethodsDialogue
The words spoken by characters in a story, usually set off by quotation marks.
LiteratureDyslexia
A specific learning disability that affects reading accuracy, fluency, and spelling. It is neurological in origin and not related to intelligence.
AssessmentE
Encoding
The process of translating spoken language into written form by applying knowledge of letter-sound relationships. It is the reverse of decoding and is essentially spelling.
Phonics & DecodingExpression
Reading with appropriate vocal inflection, emphasis, and emotion that reflects the meaning of the text. A key indicator of reading comprehension.
FluencyEvaluative Comprehension
The ability to make judgments about a text, such as assessing the author's credibility, the quality of arguments, or the effectiveness of the writing.
ComprehensionExpository
Text written to explain, describe, or inform. Textbooks, articles, and how-to guides are common examples of expository writing.
LiteratureEcho Reading
A fluency strategy where the teacher reads a sentence and the student immediately reads it back, mimicking rate and expression.
FluencyF
Fluency
The ability to read text accurately, at an appropriate rate, and with proper expression. Fluent readers can focus on meaning rather than decoding.
FluencyFrustration Level
The level at which a student reads with less than 90% accuracy and comprehension breaks down significantly. Text at this level is too difficult for instruction.
AssessmentFountas and Pinnell
A text leveling system that assigns letters A through Z to books based on difficulty. Widely used to match readers with appropriately challenging texts.
AssessmentFact and Opinion
The ability to distinguish between statements that can be verified (facts) and statements that express personal beliefs or judgments (opinions).
ComprehensionFiction
Text that describes imaginary events and characters. Includes genres such as realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction.
LiteratureFix-Up Strategy
A technique a reader uses when comprehension breaks down, such as rereading, reading ahead, or using context clues.
ComprehensionFry Words
A list of 1,000 common English words compiled by Edward Fry, organized by frequency.
FluencyFalling Action
The events that occur after the climax, leading toward the resolution of the story.
LiteratureFirst Person
A point of view where the narrator is a character in the story and uses pronouns like 'I' and 'we.'
LiteratureFigurative Language
Language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to create imagery or emphasis. Includes simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole.
LiteratureForeshadowing
Hints or clues in a text that suggest events that will happen later in the story.
LiteratureFlashback
A scene in a story that takes the reader back to an earlier time, providing background information or context.
LiteratureFluency Practice
Repeated reading of text to build speed, accuracy, and expression.
FluencyFormative Assessment
Ongoing assessment during instruction that provides feedback to guide teaching.
AssessmentG
Grapheme
A letter or group of letters that represents a single phoneme. For example, the letters 'sh' form one grapheme representing one sound.
Phonics & DecodingGuided Reading
A small-group instructional approach where the teacher supports students as they read texts at their instructional level.
Instruction MethodsGenre
A category of literature characterized by shared features such as style, form, and content. Examples include mystery, fantasy, biography, and poetry.
LiteratureGlossary
An alphabetical list of important terms and their definitions, usually found at the back of a nonfiction book.
ComprehensionGraphic Organizer
A visual tool that helps students organize information and show relationships between ideas.
Instruction MethodsH
I
Inflectional Ending
A suffix added to a base word that changes its tense, number, or degree without changing its part of speech. Examples include -ed, -ing, -s, -es, -er, and -est.
Phonics & DecodingIndependent Reading Level
The level at which a student can read with 95% or higher accuracy and strong comprehension without assistance.
AssessmentInstructional Reading Level
The level at which a student reads with 90 to 94% accuracy and needs teacher support to comprehend. This is where the most learning happens.
AssessmentInsertion
A type of reading error where the reader adds a word that is not in the text.
AssessmentInferential Comprehension
Understanding information that is implied but not directly stated. Requires the reader to combine text clues with background knowledge.
ComprehensionInformational Text
Nonfiction text that provides factual information about a topic. Includes textbooks, biographies, news articles, and reference materials.
LiteratureIndex
An alphabetical list of topics and page numbers at the end of a book, used to locate specific information.
ComprehensionInteractive Read Aloud
A read aloud where the teacher pauses at strategic points to ask questions, discuss vocabulary, and model thinking strategies.
Instruction MethodsIndependent Reading
Time when students read self-selected books at their independent level without teacher assistance.
Instruction MethodsInference
A conclusion drawn by combining text evidence with the reader's own background knowledge.
ComprehensionIdiom
A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal definitions of the words.
LiteratureImagery
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and helps the reader visualize the text.
LiteratureIrregular Word
A word that does not follow standard phonics rules and cannot be fully sounded out. Must be memorized.
Phonics & DecodingK
L
Long Vowel
A vowel sound where the vowel says its own name, such as the 'a' in 'cake,' the 'e' in 'feet,' or the 'i' in 'bike.'
Phonics & DecodingLexile
A standardized framework for matching readers to texts based on difficulty. Both readers and texts receive a Lexile measure expressed as a number followed by 'L.'
AssessmentLexile Measure
A specific number on the Lexile scale assigned to either a reader or a text. When the reader and text Lexile are close, the text is a good fit.
AssessmentLiteral Comprehension
Understanding the explicit, directly stated information in a text. Answering who, what, when, and where questions.
ComprehensionLeveled Text
Books organized by difficulty level to match students with appropriately challenging reading material.
Instruction MethodsM
Magic E
A child-friendly term for the silent e rule. The 'e' at the end of the word is said to be magical because it changes the vowel sound.
Phonics & DecodingMorpheme
The smallest unit of meaning in a language. A morpheme can be a whole word ('dog') or a word part that carries meaning ('-un,' '-ed').
Phonics & DecodingMiscue Analysis
A detailed examination of reading errors (miscues) to understand the strategies and cue systems a reader is using or neglecting.
AssessmentMain Idea
The central point or most important concept in a passage. Identifying the main idea is a foundational comprehension skill.
ComprehensionMonitoring Comprehension
The metacognitive process of being aware of whether the text makes sense during reading.
ComprehensionMetaphor
A comparison of two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as,' stating that one thing is another.
LiteratureMood
The feeling or atmosphere a text creates for the reader.
LiteratureMultisyllabic Word
A word with more than one syllable. Teaching students to break multisyllabic words into parts is essential for reading longer texts.
Phonics & DecodingMetacognition
Thinking about one's own thinking. In reading, it means being aware of whether you understand the text.
ComprehensionMini-Lesson
A brief, focused lesson lasting 5 to 15 minutes that introduces or reviews a specific skill or strategy.
Instruction MethodsMultisensory
An instructional approach that engages multiple senses simultaneously, such as seeing a letter, saying its sound, and tracing it.
Instruction MethodsN
Narrative
A text that tells a story, whether fiction or nonfiction. Narratives include elements like characters, setting, plot, and conflict.
LiteratureNonfiction
Text based on real events, people, or facts. Includes biographies, memoirs, articles, and reference works.
LiteratureNarrator
The voice that tells the story. The narrator may be a character in the story or an outside observer.
LiteratureO
Onset
The consonant or consonant cluster at the beginning of a syllable, before the vowel. In the word 'stop,' the onset is 'st.'
Phonics & DecodingOpen Syllable
A syllable that ends with a vowel, and the vowel typically makes its long sound, such as 'go,' 'me,' or the first syllable in 'robot.'
Phonics & DecodingOral Reading Fluency
A measure of a student's ability to read connected text aloud accurately, quickly, and with expression. Often assessed using timed passages.
AssessmentORF
Abbreviation for oral reading fluency. A key assessment metric in elementary reading programs.
AssessmentOmission
A type of reading error where the reader skips a word in the text.
AssessmentOrton-Gillingham
A structured, multisensory approach to teaching reading developed in the 1930s. It forms the basis for many structured literacy programs.
Instruction MethodsP
Phonemic Awareness
The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is one of the strongest predictors of early reading success.
Phonics & DecodingPhonological Awareness
A broad skill that includes recognizing and manipulating the sound structures of language, such as rhymes, syllables, and individual phonemes.
Phonics & DecodingPhoneme
The smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word. English has approximately 44 phonemes.
Phonics & DecodingPhonics
A method of teaching reading by connecting sounds (phonemes) to their written symbols (graphemes). It is a foundational component of early literacy instruction.
Phonics & DecodingPrefix
A group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning, such as 'un-' in 'unhappy' or 're-' in 'rewrite.'
Phonics & DecodingProsody
The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns used when reading aloud. Good prosody makes reading sound like natural speech.
FluencyPoint of View
The perspective from which a story is told (first person, second person, third person) or the author's attitude toward a topic.
ComprehensionPersuasive
Text written to convince the reader to adopt a particular point of view or take a specific action.
LiteraturePrior Knowledge
What a reader already knows about a topic before reading. Activating prior knowledge before reading improves comprehension.
ComprehensionPrediction
A reading strategy where the reader uses clues from the text and their own knowledge to guess what will happen next.
ComprehensionPlot
The sequence of events in a story, typically including an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
LiteraturePersonification
Giving human qualities to nonhuman things, such as 'the wind whispered through the trees.'
LiteraturePaired Reading
A fluency strategy where two readers read a text together, either simultaneously or taking turns.
FluencyPhonics Rule
A generalization about how letters and letter combinations represent sounds.
Phonics & DecodingProgress Monitoring
Frequent, brief assessments used to track a student's growth over time.
AssessmentPhoneme Manipulation
The ability to add, delete, or substitute sounds in words.
Phonics & DecodingPhoneme Isolation
The ability to identify a single sound in a word, such as recognizing that the first sound in 'fish' is /f/.
Phonics & DecodingPhoneme Blending
Listening to a sequence of separately spoken sounds and combining them to form a word.
Phonics & DecodingPhoneme Segmentation
Breaking a word into its individual sounds.
Phonics & DecodingQ
R
Rime
The vowel and everything after it in a syllable. In the word 'cat,' the rime is 'at.' Words that share a rime belong to the same word family.
Phonics & DecodingR-Controlled Vowel
A vowel followed by the letter 'r' that changes the vowel sound, as in 'car,' 'her,' 'bird,' 'for,' and 'fur.' Also called a bossy r.
Phonics & DecodingRoot Word
The core word from which other words are formed by adding prefixes or suffixes. For example, 'play' is the root of 'replay' and 'playing.'
Phonics & DecodingRate
The speed at which a person reads, typically measured in words correct per minute. An appropriate rate varies by grade level.
FluencyRunning Record
A method of recording a student's oral reading behaviors in real time, noting errors, self-corrections, and reading strategies used.
AssessmentRepetition
When a reader rereads a word or phrase. Can indicate difficulty or a self-monitoring strategy.
AssessmentRhyme
Words that have the same ending sound, such as 'cake' and 'lake.' Recognizing rhyme is an early phonological awareness skill.
Phonics & DecodingRead Aloud
When a teacher or adult reads a text aloud to students. Builds vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of reading.
Instruction MethodsReading Stamina
The ability to read independently for an extended period of time. Stamina builds gradually and is essential for academic success.
FluencyRetelling
Recounting the key events or information from a text in the reader's own words.
ComprehensionResolution
The part of the story where the conflict is resolved and loose ends are tied up.
LiteratureRising Action
The series of events that build tension and lead up to the climax of a story.
LiteratureRepeated Reading
A fluency-building strategy where a student reads the same passage multiple times to improve speed, accuracy, and expression.
FluencyReader's Theater
A fluency activity where students read scripts aloud like a play, without costumes or props.
FluencyReading Workshop
An instructional framework that includes a mini-lesson, independent reading time, and sharing.
Instruction MethodsReading Intervention
Targeted, intensive instruction provided to students who are reading below grade level.
Instruction MethodsRTI
Response to Intervention. A multi-tiered framework for identifying and supporting students with learning needs.
Instruction MethodsS
Systematic Phonics
Phonics instruction that follows a planned, sequential order, teaching letter-sound relationships in a logical progression from simple to complex.
Instruction MethodsSynthetic Phonics
A phonics approach where students learn to convert letters into sounds and then blend those sounds to form words. Students build words from individual sounds up.
Phonics & DecodingSilent E
The letter 'e' at the end of a word that is not pronounced but changes the preceding vowel from short to long, as in 'pin' becoming 'pine.'
Phonics & DecodingShort Vowel
The sound a vowel makes in a closed syllable, such as the 'a' in 'cat,' the 'e' in 'bed,' or the 'i' in 'sit.'
Phonics & DecodingSchwa
The unstressed vowel sound heard in many English words, such as the 'a' in 'about' or the 'e' in 'taken.' It sounds like a short, lazy 'uh.'
Phonics & DecodingSyllable
A unit of pronunciation that contains one vowel sound. Every word has at least one syllable. Breaking words into syllables helps with decoding.
Phonics & DecodingSyllable Division
Rules for breaking multisyllabic words into individual syllables to make them easier to decode. Common patterns include VCCV, VCV, and VCCCV.
Phonics & DecodingSuffix
A group of letters added to the end of a word that changes its meaning or grammatical function, such as '-ful' in 'helpful' or '-ly' in 'quickly.'
Phonics & DecodingSegmenting
The skill of breaking a word into its individual sounds. For example, breaking 'ship' into /sh/ /i/ /p/. The reverse of blending.
Phonics & DecodingSilent Reading
Reading without vocalizing the words. Silent reading typically becomes faster than oral reading as students develop fluency.
FluencySelf-Correction
When a reader recognizes an error and fixes it independently during reading. A high self-correction rate indicates active monitoring of comprehension.
AssessmentSubstitution
A type of reading error where the reader says a different word than what is printed, such as reading 'house' for 'home.'
AssessmentSupporting Detail
Facts, examples, or reasons that explain or back up the main idea of a passage.
ComprehensionSequence
The order in which events occur in a text. Understanding sequence helps readers follow narratives and understand processes.
ComprehensionSubheading
A smaller heading within a section that breaks the content into more specific topics.
ComprehensionSchema
The mental framework of organized knowledge that a reader brings to a text. New information is understood by connecting it to existing schema.
ComprehensionSummarizing
A reading strategy that involves condensing a text to its most important ideas in the reader's own words.
ComprehensionStory Map
A graphic organizer that helps students identify the key elements of a narrative, including characters, setting, problem, events, and solution.
Instruction MethodsSight Word
A word that a reader recognizes instantly without needing to decode it. Many sight words are high-frequency words.
FluencyShared Reading
A reading experience where the teacher reads a text aloud while students follow along, often using a big book or projected text.
Instruction MethodsSustained Silent Reading
A designated period where everyone in the class reads silently to build reading stamina and foster a love of reading.
Instruction MethodsStory Elements
The basic components of a narrative, including characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.
LiteratureSetting
The time and place where a story takes place. Setting can influence mood, conflict, and character behavior.
LiteratureSimile
A comparison of two unlike things using 'like' or 'as,' such as 'fast as a cheetah.'
LiteratureSensory Detail
Descriptive words and phrases that appeal to the five senses, helping readers experience the text more vividly.
LiteratureScope and Sequence
A plan that outlines the order in which skills and concepts are taught in a curriculum.
Instruction MethodsSummative Assessment
An assessment given at the end of a unit or period to evaluate what students have learned.
AssessmentScience of Reading
An interdisciplinary body of research on how the brain learns to read. It supports explicit, systematic phonics instruction as essential for most readers.
Instruction MethodsStructured Literacy
An approach to reading instruction that is explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic.
Instruction MethodsSight Word Fluency
The speed and accuracy with which a student recognizes sight words.
FluencyT
Trigraph
Three letters that together represent a single sound, such as 'tch' in 'watch' or 'igh' in 'night.'
Phonics & DecodingTheme
The underlying message or lesson in a piece of literature. Unlike the main idea, the theme is a universal concept that applies beyond the specific text.
ComprehensionText Structure
The organizational pattern an author uses to present information. Common structures include cause and effect, compare and contrast, chronological, and problem-solution.
ComprehensionText Feature
Visual elements in informational text that help organize and highlight information, such as headings, bold words, captions, and diagrams.
ComprehensionTable of Contents
A list at the beginning of a book showing chapters or sections and their page numbers.
ComprehensionText-to-Self Connection
A reading strategy where the reader connects something in the text to their own personal experiences.
ComprehensionText-to-Text
A reading strategy where the reader connects one text to another text they have read.
ComprehensionText-to-World
A reading strategy where the reader connects something in the text to events or knowledge in the broader world.
ComprehensionThink-Aloud
A teaching strategy where the teacher verbalizes their thought process while reading, making invisible comprehension strategies visible to students.
Instruction MethodsThird Person
A point of view where the narrator is outside the story and uses pronouns like 'he,' 'she,' and 'they.'
LiteratureText Evidence
Specific words, phrases, or passages from the text used to support an answer, claim, or interpretation.
ComprehensionTone
The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, sentence structure, and style.
LiteratureTier 1
The first level of instruction in a multi-tiered support system. It includes high-quality core instruction for all students.
Instruction MethodsTier 2
The second level of support, providing targeted small-group instruction to students who need additional help.
Instruction MethodsTier 3
The most intensive level of support, providing individualized instruction to students who have not responded to Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Instruction MethodsV
Vowel Digraph
Two vowel letters that together represent one sound, such as 'ea' in 'read,' 'ai' in 'rain,' or 'oa' in 'boat.' Also called a vowel team.
Phonics & DecodingVisualization
A reading strategy where the reader creates mental images based on the words in the text, helping to deepen understanding.
ComprehensionVenn Diagram
A graphic organizer with overlapping circles used to compare and contrast two or more items.
Instruction MethodsVocabulary
The set of words a person knows and uses. Vocabulary knowledge is strongly correlated with reading comprehension.
ComprehensionVowel Team
Two or more vowel letters that work together to make one sound. Also called a vowel digraph when two letters are involved.
Phonics & DecodingVowel Pattern
A recurring combination of vowels and consonants that represents a specific sound.
Phonics & DecodingW
Words Correct Per Minute
A measure of oral reading fluency calculated by counting the number of words read correctly in one minute. Abbreviated as WCPM.
AssessmentWCPM
Abbreviation for words correct per minute. The standard metric for measuring oral reading fluency.
AssessmentWord Wall
A display of important or frequently used words posted in the classroom where students can easily see and reference them.
Instruction MethodsWord Family
A group of words that share a common rime, such as 'cat,' 'hat,' 'bat,' and 'mat.'
Phonics & DecodingWord Recognition
The ability to identify words in print, either through decoding or automatic recognition.
FluencyWord Attack
Strategies used to figure out unknown words, including phonics, word parts, context clues, and analogy.
Phonics & Decoding