Introduction
“Science Brain Efficient Word Lists for Word Sorts, Puzzles, and More” author, Matthew J. Glavach Ph.D., offers a literacy approach based on current reading and brain research. The approach, which he calls parallel reading intervention, organizes important content area vocabulary words into logical brain efficient word lists that make learning the words much easier. Students improve spelling, word attack, vocabulary, and comprehension skills while improving their ability to succeed in content area classes such as science. The word lists provide a powerful, easy-to-use tool that enhances, not burdens, classroom instruction. The article describes the approach, and includes extensive brain efficient word lists for science.
Removing a Barrier to Content Area Classroom Success: An Approach
A major barrier for struggling students in content area classes such as science and history is a deficiency in reading and understanding multisyllable words, especially domain specific words found in content area textbooks. The deficiency compromises student fluency and comprehension. An emphasis on teaching multisyllable words is critical because the meaning of content area textbook passages is almost totally carried by multisyllable words. When students are thousands of words behind in vocabulary, one solution is teaching domain specific vocabulary in a brain efficient way.
Teaching Multisyllable Words in Consistent Patterns is Brain Efficient
Teaching multisyllable words in consistent patterns is brain efficient, as expressed in the following research findings about the brain.
-Multisyllable words are like music, they have natural rhythms that can make learning them easier. “Accent structures in words naturally make a sort of melody.”1 The rhythmic feature creates less demand on the brain and is helpful in moving words into long term memory. 2
-Brain research shows that a similar word pattern can prime the next word if it has a similar pattern, and this can accelerate reading. Rhyming words are especially powerful. 3 (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Rhyming Word Examples
magnetic kinetic genetic synthetic
irrigation precipitation evaporation condensation
-Even when the words do not rhyme but have the same ending spelling pattern, reading time is accelerated. (See Figure 2.)
Figure 2. Spelling Pattern Examples
treatment experiment environment
atmosphere hemisphere biosphere
-The brain’s neural networks respond in patterns. Words are decoded by looking for familiar patterns. The brain forms orthographic representations of the most common visual patterns. Letter patterns like pen become append and appendage.
(See Figure 3.)
Figure 3. Word Pattern Examples
dependent dependent dependent independent
Brain efficient reading includes using both sides of the brain effectively and efficiently. For most people the left side of the brain deals with language while the right side handles rhythm, intonation, and language patterns. The brain does its best work when both sides of the brain communicate harmoniously.
Using Word Sorts to Build Spelling and Word Attack Skills
To build word attack skills, sorting words into categories helps students see features common to each word group. Teachers choose words from ending categories to build word sorts. For example, words can be chosen from different ending categories to develop matching word sort cards, puzzles, and games (-er,
-or, and -ar: crater, meteor, solar). Additional teaching activity ideas are found the June 2011 National Association of Special Education Teachers, Practical Teacher article entitled “World History Brain Efficient Word Lists for Word Sorts, Puzzles, and More” byDr. Glavach
Using the Science Brain Efficient Word Lists
The science brain efficient word list word organization is based on a logical system of decoding orthography built around a brain efficient methodology, which makes it easier for students to pronounce the words. It is not necessary that students know all of the word meanings. Teachers determine how much vocabulary to study based on their groups. By improving word attack skills, students will gain more information from textbooks and classroom lessons, and they improve general reading ability.
The word list does not contain all of the difficult words found in science textbooks. But by mastering the frequently used words chosen for the word lists, students will find it easier to read the difficult words. Teachers may add to or modify the word lists.
Doctor Glavach grants permission for teachers to make copies, or posters, of the following Science Brain Efficient Word Lists for individual classroom use.
Science Brain Efficient Word Lists
© Matthew J. Glavach, Ph.D.
-ER
matter luster clusters crater laser glacier barrier cylinder Jupiter
computer consumer barometer thermometer centimeter aquifer disaster decomposer
-AR
solar polar lunar similar muscular molecular sonar radar avatar
-OR
error motor vapor harbor conductor predator meteor reactor equator generator aviator insulator anterior posterior carnivore herbivore omnivore
-MENT
element sediment measurement treatment instrument assessment experiment environment arrangement nourishment
-ENT
solvent continent component independent intelligent accident consistent efficient nutrient ingredient adjacent congruent transparent translucent luminescent incandescent
-ENCE
circumference independence intelligence reference luminescence condense
-ANT
distant dormant dominant resistant abundant significant inhabitant buoyant
-ANCE
distance resistance dominance abundance endurance disturbance significance
-AGE
storage forage drainage voltage amperage average leverage cartilage advantage appendage percentage camouflage
-TURE
feature creature nature nurture rupture mature mixture texture moisture fracture manufacture agriculture horticulture temperature
-URE
measure pressure exposure procedure
-IC
electric magnetic electromagnetic kinetic kinesthetic genetic synthetic Atlantic Pacific specific scientific atomic economic epidemic pandemic volcanic organic inorganic biotic antibiotic periodic automatic seismic geologic microscopic Arctic Antarctic barometric atmospheric Titanic dynamic aerodynamic hydroponics hydraulic metamorphic Mesozoic Paleozoic brainiac
-AL
tidal dorsal floral coastal animal annual biannual optical tropical skeletal metal nonmetal mineral natural physical chemical mechanical electrical thermal continental horizontal vertical bilateral celestial terrestrial astronomical gravitational potential mammal natal prenatal postnatal paternal maternal nocturnal
-LE
particle cycle recycle soluble
-ABLE-IBLE
stable flammable inflammable variable renewable permeable impermeable biodegradable edible inedible reversible
-TUDE
altitude latitude longitude magnitude
-IVE
positive negative radioactive recessive alternative
-ITE
parasite appetite satellite meteorite
-SPHERE / -SCOPE
atmosphere hemisphere biosphere microscope telescope
-ON-EN
electron proton neutron plankton skeleton horizon carrion pollen oxygen nitrogen
-US-IS
genus nucleus Celsius analysis hypnosis hypothesis dermis epidermis photosynthesis
-OUS
porous nervous igneous luminous continuous spontaneous simultaneous
hazardous carnivorous
-SION
division erosion explosion expansion tension suspension diffusion conclusion propulsion repulsion compression collision transmission abrasion adhesion
-ACTION
reaction traction attraction contraction refraction
-UTION
solution pollution evolution revolution resolution substitution
-ITION
condition nutrition prediction competition opposition decomposition
-ESTION–ECTION-CTION
digestion selection connection convection infection inspection dissection friction extinction
-TION
combustion conduction eruption reproduction
-ATION
formation creation rotation gravitation insulation pollination germination variation exploration mutation adaptation radiation generation elevation communication migration hibernation circulation gestation incubation population innovation combination explanation
-ATION
irrigation cultivation excavation precipitation evaporation condensation oxidation transpiration respiration observation constellation classification experimentation investigation notation interpretation approximation contamination concentration acceleration aviation conservation deforestation distillation desalination specialization
-ATE
-rotate insulate pollinate germinate migrate communicate hibernate circulate irrigate cultivate replicate duplicate domesticate
-ATE
propagate chlorinate contaminate saturate carbohydrate
climate vertebrate invertebrate
-ITY
gravity cavity density heredity dexterity humidity validity velocity capacity extremity turbidity similarity probability radioactivity
-Y
energy galaxy frequency buoyancy pharmacy
-ARY
primary secondary sanitary planetary solitary stationary tributary voluntary involuntary aviary hereditary sedimentary auditory
-A
data plasma magma tundra amoeba peninsula bacteria supernova inertia anorexia insomnia
-UM
fulcrum momentum optimum cerebrum cerebellum
-IUM
cranium uranium aquarium solarium terrarium planetarium paramecium
-ISM
prism magnetism metabolism organism tropism protoplasm
-OLOGY
biology geology ecology astrology ornithology anthropology archeology meteorology chronology morphology
-IST
biologist geologist ecologist astrologist ornithologist anthropologist archaeologist meteorologist botanist
References
(1) Levitan, D.J. (2009). The World in Six Songs. (p.25) New York: Penguin Books.
(2) Levitan, D.J. (2009). The World in Six Songs. (p.172) New York: Penguin Books.
(3) Dehaene, S.D. (2009). Reading in the Brain (p. 42). New York:Viking/Penguin Group.
Currently a download copy of the book Science Word Sorts is available at the author’s website www.StrugglingReaders.com
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