This section is designed to give you definitions of terms that have been used in the manual.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Advocate | To support or speak on behalf of oneself or one’s child in a social, educational or employment setting. |
| Analogic | A process that is similar is some respects. |
| Andragogy | The art and science of how adults learn. |
| Assessment | Identification or determination of present skill level and knowledge; the key question is “what is?” |
| Auditory Discrimination |
The ability to distinguish one sound from another in spoken language. |
| Brain Gym | Based on the principle that by moving the body, brain power (thinking, problem solving…) is naturally enhanced, Brain Gym is a system of quick, targeted physical activities aimed at improving athletic and intellectual skills. It is part of a larger program called Educational Kinesiology (or Edu-K). |
| Calm Assertiveness |
This is an action whereby the person is unruffled (or calm) but can maintain personal point of view and get one’s point across. The person is able to maintain and insert his or her perspective. |
| Contextual memory |
The brain does not learn in isolation but rather, learns by connecting things; contextual memory is learning and then remembering (storage and retrieval) something within the context of something else. |
| Curriculum Expectations |
Ministry of Education requirements for each subject of study from JK to Grade 12. For example, in Grade 1 there are specific curriculum expectations for English, math, science and the arts. |
| Decoding | A process of developing an understanding of the relationship between individual or groups of written symbols or letters and spoken language (establishing meaning from written symbols or letters). |
| Dialogic Process | A process whereby two or more people are engaging in language or thought processes as it relates to text or stories. |
| Embedded Skills | Skills that are hidden within other skills or tied to individual tasks; for example, knowing the alphabet is embedded within reading text. |
| Emergent Literacy |
Refers to children’s literacy development (all the knowledge and skills related to literacy that they acquire) before receiving formal reading and writing instruction in school; the description of those behaviours shown by toddlers and young children as they respond to and begin to approximate reading and writing acts (some examples include scribbling, pretending to ‘read’ a favourite book to mom or dad, following the words on a page with their finger while mom reads the book, pretending to talk on the phone, pretending to make a grocery list). |