The part of a syllable including a single consonant, consonant blend, and consonant digraph, which comes before the first vowel of the syllable.

Hints and indicators within a specific context, which allow students to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words. Students recognize that, practically, they can only use a limited number of word choices to retain the intended meaning of a passage.

A set of words understood within or through verbal language.

The meticulous perception and comprehension of units of text which requires almost no effort to recognize new words in whole or in part.

Words that students can correctly identify as they read, but only after a careful examination of the visual images of the words.

Any structure of standard visual signs intended for communication. Examples include letters, numerals, and ideographs.

A stage in the writing process in which the writer mentally reviews and tests out different versions of a piece of work before making a final selection.

An assessment method which evaluates writing based on an overall standard for the piece as a whole.

A classification of artistic work according to certain shared characteristics. Examples of genres include fairytale, historical fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and mystery.

A learning tool, also called a chair of “distinction,” on which students sit when sharing their written work with classmates.