ORELA Elementary Education (NT102) flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Phonemic awareness

The ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words, such as blending /c/-/a/-/t/ into cat. It involves no printed letters and is a predictor of later reading success.

Phonics

Instruction that teaches the relationship between letters (graphemes) and the sounds they represent (phonemes). It supports decoding unfamiliar words in print and differs from phonemic awareness, which is purely oral.

Fluency

Reading text accurately, at an appropriate rate, and with expression (prosody). Fluent readers recognize words automatically, freeing attention for comprehension; it is often measured as words correct per minute.

Simple View of Reading

A model stating that reading comprehension equals decoding ability multiplied by linguistic comprehension. A weakness in either factor limits overall comprehension, so instruction may target word recognition or language understanding.

Morpheme

The smallest unit of meaning in a word, such as the base word and affixes in replay (re- + play). Morphemes are meaning units, unlike syllables, which are units of sound.

Open syllable

A syllable ending in a vowel sound, which is usually long, as in go, hi, and the first syllable of table. Contrast a closed syllable, which ends in a consonant and usually has a short vowel.

Closed syllable

A syllable ending in one or more consonants, which typically makes the vowel short, as in cat, jump, and the first syllable of rabbit. Contrast an open syllable such as me.

Silent-e syllable

A syllable with a vowel-consonant-e pattern in which the final e is silent and the vowel is long, as in cake, hope, and ride. Also called a vowel-consonant-e or magic-e syllable.

Vowel team

Two or more letters that together represent a single vowel sound, as in rain, boat, and book. Vowel teams may be digraphs (ai, ee) or diphthongs (oi, ou).

Text structure

The organizational pattern of a text, such as compare-contrast, cause-effect, chronological sequence, problem-solution, or description. Signal words like because, however, and first help readers identify the pattern.

Six traits of writing

A framework for assessing writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Rubrics based on these traits evaluate content and clarity as well as mechanical correctness.

Writing process stages

Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Revising addresses content, organization, and word choice; editing addresses conventions such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Main idea

The central point a paragraph or passage conveys, often stated in a topic sentence and supported by details. Identifying it requires distinguishing key information from supporting examples and minor points.

Inference

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a text combined with prior knowledge, rather than stated directly. Readers infer character motives, causes, and implied meanings by connecting clues across a passage.

Federalism

A system dividing power between a national government and state governments, as established by the U.S. Constitution. Certain powers are delegated, reserved, or shared, and conflicts are resolved by the supremacy clause.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, protecting freedoms such as speech, religion, press, assembly, and rights of the accused, and reserving unlisted rights to the people.

Checks and balances

Constitutional provisions letting each branch limit the others, such as the presidential veto, congressional override, and judicial review. They prevent any single branch from dominating the federal government.

Place value

The value of a digit determined by its position in a number, with each place ten times the value of the place to its right. In 4,706 the 7 represents 700.

Equivalent fractions

Fractions that name the same amount, such as 1/2 and 3/6. Multiplying or dividing both numerator and denominator by the same nonzero number produces an equivalent fraction without changing value.

Common denominator

A shared multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions, needed to add or subtract them. For 1/3 and 1/4, the least common denominator is 12, giving 4/12 and 3/12.

Dividing fractions

To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal: a/b ÷ c/d equals a/b × d/c. For example, 1/2 ÷ 1/4 equals 1/2 × 4/1, which equals 2.

Order of operations

The sequence for evaluating expressions: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Thus 3 + 4 × 2 equals 11, not 14.

Area of a triangle

One-half times base times height, or ½bh. The height is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex, which may lie outside the triangle for obtuse figures.

Circumference of a circle

The distance around a circle, calculated as π times the diameter or 2πr. Using π approximately 3.14, a circle with radius 5 has a circumference of about 31.4 units.

Mean, median, and mode

Three measures of central tendency: mean is the sum divided by the count, median is the middle value when ordered, and mode is the most frequent value. Range is the maximum minus the minimum.

Independent variable

The factor deliberately changed or manipulated by the experimenter in an investigation. The dependent variable is the factor measured in response, and constants are conditions held the same across trials.

Scientific method

A process of asking a question, forming a testable hypothesis, conducting a controlled experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing a conclusion that may support or refute the hypothesis.

Photosynthesis

The process in chloroplasts by which plants use light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and release oxygen. It converts light energy into chemical energy stored in sugars.

Food chain

A sequence showing energy transfer from producers to consumers, such as grass to rabbit to fox. Arrows point toward the consumer, and decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Seasons

Annual changes in weather caused by Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt as it revolves around the Sun, which varies the angle and duration of sunlight. Distance from the Sun is not the cause.

Moon phases

The changing apparent shape of the Moon as seen from Earth, caused by its position relative to Earth and the Sun. A complete cycle from new moon to new moon takes about 29.5 days.

Health-related fitness

The five components of fitness tied to health: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. These differ from skill-related components such as agility and speed.

Essential nutrients

Substances the body needs from food: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates and fats supply energy, proteins build tissue, and vitamins and minerals regulate body processes.