Students learn basic classroom language skills, such as following instructions, using a dictionary, and building vocabulary.
Foundational Skills unit contains 6 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Foundational Skills Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Following and Giving Instructions
Students listen actively and interpret both verbal and nonverbal messages. Then they ask relevant questions. They improve their skills at following and restating complex instructions. Finally, they practice giving clear, multi-step oral instructions.
Look It Up!
Students learn dictionary skills to help find meaning, pronunciation, syllabication, and origin of familiar and unfamiliar words. Then they work in groups to go on a dictionary scavenger hunt. Finally, they take a closer look at word origins of our English language.
Using Context for Meaning
Students learn to use context to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and words with multiple meanings. They illustrate a word with multiple meanings and then write a sentence reflecting the meaning they illustrated. Then, they write their own sentences to use context to give meaning to unfamiliar words chosen from a dictionary.
Prefixes and Suffixes
Students learn to read and write words with prefixes and suffixes. Then they learn how prefixes and suffixes affect the meaning of base words. Finally, they build real and made-up words by combining affixes and roots from a list.
Building Your Vocabulary
Students expand their knowledge of word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, then build and decode words using those elements. They also explore how knowledge of roots and affixes is a strategy for vocabulary comprehension. Then they combine the word elements and use their newly acquired words in sentences.
Word Play
Students become familiar with adages and puns through identifying, using, and explaining them.
