ParaPro key terms

The ability to hear and work with the separate sounds in spoken words, such as blending sounds into a word or pulling a word apart. It involves sound only, not printed letters.

The set of relationships between printed letters and the sounds they stand for, plus the instruction that teaches students to use those pairs to read and spell words.

Reading text accurately, at a sensible pace, and with expression. Fluent readers recognize most words automatically, which leaves attention free for understanding what the text says.

Using letter-sound knowledge to sound out and recognize printed words. It is the step that turns symbols on a page into spoken language a reader can understand.

The collection of words a student knows and can use. Understanding what individual words mean is one of the strongest supports for making sense of a text.

The act of understanding and making meaning from something read. It includes recalling facts, connecting ideas, and interpreting what the author intended, not just pronouncing the words correctly.

The most important point a passage makes about its topic. It may be stated in a sentence or only suggested, and the other sentences in the passage explain or support it.

A conclusion a reader reaches by combining clues in the text with what the reader already knows. The idea is suggested by the passage but not stated outright.

Hints found in the words and sentences around an unfamiliar word that help a reader work out its meaning without looking it up in a dictionary.

A short restatement of the most important ideas in a text, given in the reader's own words. It leaves out minor details and examples.

Wording that goes beyond literal meaning to create a picture or add emphasis, as in similes, metaphors, and idioms. Readers must interpret it rather than take it word for word.

Parts of a book or article other than the main body of sentences, such as headings, captions, bold words, a glossary, and an index, that help readers find and understand information.

A group of words written and punctuated like a sentence but missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, as in 'Ran to the store.'

Two or more complete sentences run together without correct punctuation or a connecting word, so the reader cannot easily tell where one idea ends.

The rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, so that the sentence is grammatically correct.

The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually placed near the beginning, telling the reader what the rest of the paragraph will explain.

Sentences that explain, describe, or give examples of a paragraph's main idea. They make the writing specific and convincing instead of vague.

Words and phrases such as 'however,' 'therefore,' and 'next' that show how ideas relate and help a reader move smoothly from one point to the next.

Reworking a draft to improve its ideas, organization, and word choice. It deals with the whole piece and comes before checking grammar and spelling.

Checking a piece of writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. It fixes small errors and usually follows revision, when the ideas are already set.

The planning stage of writing, when a student gathers and organizes ideas through brainstorming, listing, or outlining before drafting.

One of two or more words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things, such as 'there,' 'their,' and 'they're.'

A punctuation mark used to separate items in a list, set off introductory words, or join two complete thoughts with a conjunction, marking a brief pause.

The value a digit has because of its position in a number. In 4,382 the 4 stands for four thousands, while the 3 stands for three hundreds.

Trading a unit from one place value for ten units of the next smaller place, or the reverse, so an addition or subtraction can be completed.

A number that names part of a whole or part of a group, written with a top number over a bottom number, such as 3/4.

The top number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts are being described, as the 3 in 3/4 tells that three fourths are counted.

The bottom number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts the whole has been cut into, as the 4 in 3/4.

Fractions that name the same amount even though they are written with different numbers, such as 1/2, 2/4, and 4/8.

A number written with a decimal point to show parts smaller than one, such as tenths and hundredths. The 0.75 in money is seventy-five cents.

A way of comparing a number to 100, so that 40 percent means 40 out of every 100. Percents are often used for discounts, grades, and statistics.

Replacing a number with a nearby, simpler number at a chosen place value. For example, 47 rounded to the nearest ten becomes 50.

Finding an answer that is close rather than exact, often by rounding first, to judge whether a calculation or answer is reasonable.

A whole number that divides another number evenly, leaving no remainder. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.

The result of multiplying a number by a whole number. Multiples of 4 include 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20.

The agreed sequence for working out an expression: parentheses first, then exponents, then multiplication and division, and finally addition and subtraction, moving left to right.