Three years of long hours, new ideas, and improvements is paying off: Reading Horizons finally gets to celebrate the release of the NEW Reading Horizons v5 software! This post is a continuation of a 5 day post series focusing on 5 different features of Reading Horizons v5 software.
Day 1: Lessons
Day 2: Library
Day 3: Pronunciation Proficiency Tool
Day 4: Vocabulary Tool
Day 5: Administration System
To ensure that students are provided with sufficient practice with Reading Horizons v5 unique marking system, the new software provides a vocabulary database of over 10,000 terms. This extensive list helps students develop vocabulary while practicing decoding skills. The Vocabulary tool may be used at any time during the program and contains vocabulary relating to the skills that are being taught in the lessons.
Reading Horizons v5 Vocabulary Lesson Manager
The Vocabulary Tool relies on the goal of Reading Horizons v5 being more student-focused. The program insures student improvement by adjusting to student performance. The number of terms the student must complete in this section is determined by student performance on the lesson material of Reading Horizons v5 software. Students who perform poorly in the adjoining lesson will be required to complete additional vocabulary terms. Administrators can also adjust settings to determine the number of terms a student must complete.
The student experience in the Vocabulary section includes: hearing each word pronounced, defined, and used in context sentences; seeing alternative forms of the word shown, with an additional sentence showing that term used in context; and seeing several words illustrated with graphics.
Words are organized as:
- High Frequency Words
- More Words
- Nonsense Words
- English for Special Purposes Words (optional)
Terms fall into 5 categories:
- School
- Business
- Medicine
- Hospitality
- Travel
In order to pass of vocabulary terms students must properly decode the number of words they are assigned using Reading Horizons marking system. This helps students become familiar with likely and unlikely sequences of letters and learn how to break words down into syllables.
This is an example of the material provided for each term in the Vocabulary section of Reading Horizons v5
Students also have the option to record themselves pronouncing the term and compare their pronunciation to the narrator’s. This option is especially beneficial to ELL (English Language Learners) students. To further assist ELL students, administrators can also enable foreign language support in this section.
As students learn to enjoy increasing their vocabulary they can also use the search feature to find words in the database that interest them. This will help students expand their vocabulary and understand how words are decoded.
Video
The following video of Reading Horizons Reading Specialist, Shantell Berrett, discusses the teacher feedback she has received on the vocabulary component of the new Reading Horizons v5 Software:
Question
Answer the following question in the comment section of this blog:
In the video clip Shantell Berret discussed the Vocabulary Tool on the new Reading Horizons v5 software. From reading this post, how do you think this tool will most benefit struggling readers?
Be sure to visit the blog again tomorrow to learn more about the improved Administration System of Reading Horizons v5. The Administration System further adds to the concept of creating a more student-focused reading program.
Students can also build their vocabulary through the use of Reading Horizons, Lemons for Literacy Vocabulary Game: Lemons for Literacy