MINI-LESSON: INFERRING WORD MEANINGS - REVIEW

A sample mini-lesson follows, based on the story Pettranella. The lesson serves as a model for fix-up strategy summary lessons. It is left up to the discretion of the instructor to choose the appropriate story and word(s) to emphasize, depending upon when the need to review and consolidate ways to infer word meanings from context becomes evident.

1. Brings the discussion of strategies for inferring word meanings from con text to closure by inviting participants to define the word "Homestead",from the story Pettranella and "think-aloud" to tell how they inferred the meaning of the word from context. The excerpt may be printed on the chalkboard or chart paper for reference. It is expected that one of the responses elicited will include breaking the word into manageable parts. Given knowledge of the word "Home", the reference to "land" in the next clause, and "farm" in the next sentence, one would expect "Homestead" to mean the home and adjoining land belonging to the family. If this definition is not forthcoming, the process of using structural cues to infer word meanings may be modeled. By breaking the word"Homestead" into its meaningful parts, the word is easier to deal with.
   
   "It's from Uncle Gus in Canada," began her father. "He has his homestead there now, and is already clearing his land. Someday it will be a large farm..." (p. 3)
   
   
2. Asks participants to name strategies for inferring word meanings that have been introduced so far, while at the same time listing them on the chalkboard or chart paper. These may include: skipping over the word because it is not central to the meaning of the overall story, reading further, rereading, and referring to the title and pictures. The strategy of using structural cues/breaking the word into its meaning parts should be added.
   
   
3. Distributes and with participants, reads the handout, Word Level Fix-up Strategies (Box 23 and Appendix E). Draws attention to the additional strategies listed on the handout not identified in Step 2 above. These may include: substituting a word that probably means the same thing, using the dictionary, and asking someone.