Literacy

I have often fought on how to better incorporate literacy, specifically new vocabulary, into my content area. This chapter in Pearson has helped give insight on new and innovative ways to do just that.  The area I teach in radiology is full of new, often unheard of terms, for the student. They often struggle with new vocabulary , definitions and content . Not only new radiology terms, but medical terminology and abbreviations that they will not only need to remember, but utilize in their everyday life.  On page 70 of “Technology to Teach Literacy” it addresses giving the student vocab words before introducing the text and having students actively engage in the vocab in some manner( (Anderson, Grant, & Speck, 2008). I have often left it up to the student, as an assignment, to define new words DURING the review of a new chapter. The idea of introducing them ahead of time may help students get a better understanding of new terms. When it comes to the medical terms, I break down the words and teach prefix, suffix and root word separately, having them gain a good understanding of these before we put them together as a whole word. I then test them on those before we move onto complete words. I find this to be helpful in the overall understanding of new words. I also believe this strategy helps with future encounters, being able to break down new words into familiar terms. I would like to work on a “technology” that would help students in this area…..if there are any suggestions out there J

Anderson, R., Grant, M. M., & Speck, B. W. (2008). Technology to Teach Literacy, A Resource fo K-8 Teachers. New Jersey: Pearson.