Sekena Dillard
CDT 1224V
Preschool Development
September 28, 2021
Theresa Taylor
Chapter 10 Key Terms
1. Language- A system of symbols spoken, written, and gestural (e.g., waving, smiling,
scowling, and cowering) that enables us to communicate with one another.
2. Phonemes- The smallest units of language; the speech sounds in language.
3. Morphemes- The smallest meaningful units in a language and strings of sounds that have
meaning.
4. Syntax- A set of rules that concerns the way that words are placed in sequence to make
an acceptable sentence or phrase.
5. Semantics- The study of meaning that refers to words used in the correct context and
attached to the appropriate referent.
6. Pragmatics- The rules for using language appropriately and to best advantage.
7. Learning theory- A view of language acquisition that explains it through the
mechanisms of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and imitation.
8. structural-innatist theory- A theory that explains language acquisition as a human
being born with a biological need to develop rule systems for language, while
reinforcement and imitation give feedback and build vocabulary.
9. Social-interactionist theory- A theory stating that the sequence and timing of speech
development are biologically determined, whereas the specific language the child learns
is determined by the environment in which he or she lives.
10. Dialect- A variation of the standard speech of a language.
11. English language learners (ELL) - A person whose primary language is not English but
who is in the process of learning English.
12. Bilingual- Speaking two languages.
13. English-language classrooms- Classrooms in which English is the language of
instruction.
14. Private speech- Self-talk by a child.
15. Function- A means by which a child achieves some purpose through the use of language.
16. Literate- Being able to read and write.
17. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - A federal law passed in 2001 whose objective is that
every child will be able to read by the end of third grade.
18. Early Reading First- A federally designed reading program for preschoolers.
19. Novice reading and writing- The awareness that print communicates meaning.
20. Experimenting reading and writing- The transitional period in which children know
the letters of the alphabet and attempt the spelling and reading of simple words.
21. Conventional reading and writing- Engaging in what society would agree is “real”
reading and writing.
22. Whole-language approach- A literacy technique that places children and their needs at
the center of the curriculum; fits the cognitive-developmental or constructivist point of
view.
23. Balanced approach to reading instruction- An approach that attempts to blend both
phonics and whole-language instruction.
24. Phonemic awareness- The ability to hear and identify individual sounds and spoken
words.
25. Fluency- The capacity to read text accurately and quickly.
26. Vocabulary- The words that students must know to communicate effectively.
27. Comprehension- The ability to understand and gain meaning from what has been said.
28. Transitional spellings-The spellings that children invent, usually based on the sounds of
letters they are familiar with, as they move into spelling.