3.2 Word/Words

When and Where Did I Find It:   Although most people would think they know what the word, "words" means but I have no doubt it is a tacit understanding.   I found this word when revisiting an old version of the McKenna and Robinson text, Teaching Through Text (2002).  The authors state, "Words are symbols for concepts...a schema is all the information and experiences that an individual has learned in association with a given concept. ...The written symbol itself does not 'carry' meaning; rather, the reader bringsmeaning to the symbol (Smith, 1988)"  (as cited in McKenna & Robinson, 2002, p. 99).
Full citation McKenna, M. C. & Robinson, R.D. (2002).  Teaching through text:  Reading and writing in the content areas (3rd ed.).  Boston, MA:  Allyn and Bacon.  

What it means: The term is defined in the sentence above.  "Words are symbols for concepts; words themselves do not carry meaning, rather the reader brings the meaning to the symbol" (McKenna & Robinson).  To further detail this discussion the authors state:   


"Words therefore come to have many associations for us.  Those associations concerned with the word's general meaning and which are likely to be shared by most users of the word are said to be denotative. The word's dictionary definition is sometimes called its denotation.  Associations that are not directly connected to a word's denotative meaning are described as connotative.  Such associations vary with individuals because their experiences vary.  To some, the word golf might connote doctors, presidents, and country clubs.  To thers it might connote frustration, fatigue, and wasted hours...Both denotations and connotations are very much a part of a student's schema for a given word."  (McKenna & Robinson, p. 99).

Level of Familiarity: I am familiar with this concept, but I think it always good to be reminded of the symbolic nature of words.  

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?   Ha! I love that the word, "word" is in this prompt.  Yes, I want my schemata for this concept to be well developed.  I think understanding the symbolic nature of words is key to becoming a strategic teacher of vocabulary.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...if so WHO and WHY?:   I certainly think my LTED 625 students (as well as all teachers) should have a deep and principled understanding of what words are -- as well as how best to learn them.