7:2 MEDIUM

When and where found: I found this word while reading Lauren's reciprocal teaching article.  I circled it and remembered I found a word in that article, so I went back to it.  To refresh our memories, the article was titled Teaching Students to Comprehend Informational Text Through Rereading by Hedin and Conderman.  The section I found it in was about specific text features and it was the topic sentence in the paragraph.

What it means: MEDIUM in the sense it was being used was to refer to a specific type of text or format of communication.  The sentence I found it in was: "Informational text proved to be an excellent medium for teaching students to reread because of its text features..." (2010, p. 558).

Level of Familiarity: I consider myself moderately familiar with this word, professionally in our coursework and personally.  Understanding different mediums and their specific purpose lies at the heart of my understanding of being a literacy educator.  If I can instill in my students the numerous different purposes change how we communicate, then my students will begin to be meta-cognizant of their interactions (Fisher & Frey, 2008); therefore, my students will have strong literacy skills to operate in the complex and "deictic" world we live in (Leu, 2000).

To know well...or not? YES, we as literacy educators NEED to have a deep word knowledge of MEDIUM (Fisher & Frey, 2008).  In addition, I would argue MEDIUM is a "technical vocabulary" word for literacy educators; however, many lay people would consider it "specialized" (Fisher & Frey, 2008, p. 12, 13).

References:

Fisher, D. and Frey, N. (2008). Wordwise and content rich: Five essential steps to teaching academic vocabulary. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Hedin, L. R. and Conderman, G. (2010). Teaching students to comprehend informational text through rereading. The Reading Teacher, 63(7), pp. 556-565. DOI: 10.1598/RT.63.7.3

Leu, D. J. (2000). Literacy and technology: Deictic consequences for literacy education in an informational age. Handbook of Reading Research, 3, pp. 743-770.

7:1 INVICTUS

When and where found:  I found this word while I was searching for a new name for my new kitten.  The kitten is a siamese and I want to give it a strong and unique name.  I am not sure if we will end up choosing this name.  We are still thinking of Maximus and Spartacus.  So while I was searching the meaning of this name I stumbled upon an amazing poem as titled by William E. Henley.

What it means:  This word means "unconquerable" according to Henley's poem.  In addition, reading Henley's poem also solidifies the meaning.  Underlying connotations are inner strength, independent control, etc.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary online does not recognize INVICTUS as a word, most likely because it is a name.

Level of Familiarity:  I was not too familiar with this word before looking it up; however, I had it in the back of my mind for some reason.

To know well...or not?  Yes, especially if you read the poem.  I was so thrilled to find the poem that truly expresses the meaning of INVICTUS so effectively.  This word is important to know well because the world is a place where one can get forgotten about or used.  If we remember the meaning of this word, then we can become more conscious of our strengths and thrive by capitalizing on them.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. William Ernest Henley  (from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/invictus/)

5:3 CHASM

When and Where found:  I found this word while I was reading Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson.  When he used this word he was talking about science medicine and new age medicine, like meditation.

What it means: CHASM is a noun used to describe a marked division, separation or divide. Benson so eloquently used this word as a metaphor of how the book Relaxation Response bridged the divide between modern medicine and actual patient experience.

Level of Familiarity:  Similar to ELICIT, I understand this word best in context.  Luckily, Benson's text is "friendly"(Dreher & Singer, 2001) and he writes: "The CHASM was crossed, the gulf bridged" (1978, p. xxv).  This sentence cues the reader and helps connect meanings without loosing the flow of his paragraph.

To know well...or not? Yes, for descriptive writing purposes this word adds strong meaning.  CHASM can help describe a level of difference in opinion of groups, as it was used by Benson.  Knowing this word will best be suited from adding strength to persuasive writing pieces.

5:2 ELICIT

When and Where Found: I found this word while I was reading Relaxation Response by a Harvard doctor.  The book is teaches people about a relaxation technique used to combat anxiety.

What it means: ELICIT is a noun that means to draw forth or bring out or to call forth, according to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary.  The sentence I found it in was: "We started teaching patients to ELICIT the Relaxation Response in ways that were meaningful to them" (Benson, 1974, p. xix). In this sense, ELICIT has a similar meaning to "use."

Level of Familiarity: I am relatively familiar with this word.  I have a general understanding of the word when I use context clues to remind myself what it means.  To actually be able to recite the definition on call is more difficult for me.

To know well...or not? Yes, this word should be known well.  It functions as a specific meaning.  Instead of simply stating to use something, ELICIT adds more shades of meaning.  In particular, to elicit adds that there was added care when choosing to use something.