Dictionaries up for grabs!

DICTIONARIES UP FOR GRABS!

In the last issue of TET, we included the following announcement:

LONGMAN HAVE DONATED 10 DICTIONARIES TO READERS WHO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE EDITOR (DR MALCOLM VENTER, drv@worldonline.co.za) GIVING,  IN NO MORE THAN 50 WORDS, A TIP ON HOW TO USE DICTIONARIES IN THE CLASSROOM.  PLEASE INDICATE WHAT GRADE LEVEL THE TIP IS AIMED AT. THE FIRST TEN TO SEND IN THEIR ENTRIES WILL RECEIVE A FREE DICTIONARY AND CD ROM.  PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS.

Well, in the end we received three entries – and the authors will shortly be receiving a copy of this very attractive and functional dictionary. Here are their suggestions:

 Children like to play

Grade 4 learners could use the dictionary as a FUN GAME. The teacher could have a list of words (one at a time) and ask learners to look up the words from the dictionary. Learners may work in pairs or individually. The learners who get the word first are allocated points. After 5-10 words, the groups’ scores are calculated and the one with the highest score wins. This may be repeated amongst different groups of learners.

Gregg Masondo, North West Province

‘A dictionary on every desk!’

When I was a teacher, it was an English class rule: A dictionary on every desk! When a child came to class, the dictionary had to be put on the desk. Every child knew the teacher’s answer if they asked how to spell a word, ‘Use your dictionary!’

Richard Hayward, Gauteng

‘Balderdash’

An adaptation of ‘Balderdash’ works really well with high school grades. (It’s the original pre-board game.) Team leader chooses a word. Everyone writes own definition.  Team leader reads all definitions including the correct one. Points  scored for guessing correct definition, and for being chosen.  Reinforces dictionary components and style.

Nicci Hayes, Eastern Cape

Categories: Volume 4

Arthur Miller’s THE CRUCIBLE Two Yeats poems