1. Dictionary Skills
Grade 4
Lesson 2

2. The part of speech for a word
Refer to a dictionary
When you want to know:
What a word means
How to spell a word
How to pronounce a word
The part of speech for a word
Two weeks ago we went over some dictionary skills. Let’s review.

3. Dictionary
Throughout the dictionary you will find many helpful resources along with the definitions, pronunciations, parts of speech, and spelling of the words.
We talked about some of these things last time.

4. In the Dictionary We talked about: Cross References: See saxophone
Usage Guides: Informal
Slang
Cross References-we looked up the word mouthpiece and at the end of the definition it told us to “See saxophone”. When we flipped over to saxophone what did we find? A picture of a saxophone and the mouthpiece was labeled.
We talked about Usage Guides and how they tell us if a word is being used in an Informal or Slang way. Turn to page 159 and find the word dough. What is the second meaning and how is it used? 2. (slang) Money

5. New Words and New Definitions
The English Language is always growing and changing.
New words are added every year.
Old words often take on additional meanings.
We talked about this a little.

6. New Entry Words
in.ter.net (in-tur-net) noun The electronic network that allows millions of computers around the world to connect together. We can access the internet on the school computers.
couch po.ta.to (kouch puh-tay-toh)
noun (informal) Someone who spends most of his or her time watching television rather than being active.
These are 2 new entry words that have been added in recent years. Several years ago there were no computers and certainly no internet for computers to connect together.

7. New Additional Meanings
mouse (mouss) noun
1. A small, furry animal with a pointed nose, small ears, and a long tail. 2. A small control box that you use to move the cursor on your computer screen.
rap (rap)
1. verb To hit something sharply and quickly.
2. noun A type of song in which words are spoken in a rhythmical way to a music background.
The traditional definition for mouse is a small, furry animal. The new meaning for mouse is part of your computer.
The traditional definition for rap is to hit something sharply and quickly.
The new additional meaning for rap is a type of song in which words are spoken in a rhythmical way to a music background.

8. Scholastic Children’s Dictionary
Now we’re going to take a closer look at this particular dictionary and what it has to offer.

9. Scholastic Children’s Dictionary
Contains several helpful resources.
At the beginning of the dictionary you will find:
Pronunciation Guide
How to Use This Dictionary
Initials, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
We mentioned the pronunciation guide last time. Also, there are 2 pages that explain How to Use This Dictionary. There is also a page listing

10. Initials, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
An initial is a letter, usually followed by a period, that takes the place of a whole word.
An acronym is a group of initials that forms another word or phrase.
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word, followed by a period.

11. Initials
F. Farenheit
T. Tablespoon
g. Gram

12. Acronyms ASAP As Soon As Possible NASCAR National Association for
Stock Car Auto Racing
WWW World Wide Web
CIA Central Intelligence Agency

13. Abbreviations
Aug August
min. minute
no. number
ft. foot

14. Scholastic Children’s Dictionary
Throughout this dictionary you will find Word Boxes.
Word boxes give you extra information about the origin or usage of a word.

15. Word Boxes “About This Letter” “Language Notes” “Prefixes” “Suffixes”
“Synonyms”
“Word History”
There are six kinds of word boxes in this dictionary.

16. About This Letter Box
These boxes appear on the opening page of each new letter. In each one, you will find a fact about that letter or a spelling tip for words containing that letter’s sound.

17. Ee About E Example Letter Box
E is the most commonly used letter in the English language.
In order of use, e is followed by t and then by a, i, s, o, n, h, r, d, l, u, c, m, f, w, y, p, g, b, v, k, j, q, x, and z.

18. Language Notes Box
These boxes tell you more information about the words and grammar that people use to talk and write.

19. Language Note Example
Aloha is the Hawaiian word for “love”, so when Hawaiians use aloha to greet someone or say goodbye, they are also wishing the person love. Hawaii’s nickname is the Aloha State.

20. Prefixes
A word part added to the beginning of a word or root to change the meaning.

21. Root Words
A word to which a prefix or suffix is added to make another word.
Root word war
Prefix pre
prewar-before the war

22. Example Prefix Box
The prefix bi- adds one of the following meanings to a root word:
1. Twice every, as in bimonthly
(twice every month).
2. Having two, as in bicuspid
(a tooth having two points).

23. Suffixes
A syllable or syllables added at the end of a word or root that changes its meaning.

24. Example Suffix Box
The suffix –est means “most” when added to a root adjective or adverb, as in hottest (most hot), biggest (most big), slowest (most slow).
Sometimes the final consonant in the root word is doubled before the –est is added. Always look up the word if you’re not sure how to spell it.

25. Synonyms
A word that means the same or nearly the same as another word.
The word rapid is a synonym for quick.
The word naughty is a synonym for bad.

26. Example Synonyms Box Synonyms: big
Big can describe things, people, ideas, or anything else that has great size or importance: An elephant is a big animal.
Large is often used in place of big and refers to anything greater than normal size or quantity: My mom runs a large business with a lot of employees.

27. Synonyms Box Continued
Immense describes something so big that you can hardly measure or comprehend it. An immense snowstorm blanketed several states with deep snow.
Enormous, like immense, means extremely big or large: He gave me an enormous hug.
Huge means very large in scope or a very large amount. I had a huge meal.

28. Word History Boxes
These boxes tell you information about the history of the word.

29. Example Word History Box
Spanish explorers had never seen an alligator before they came to the New World. When they encountered one, they thought it looked like a very large lizard. They called it el lagarto, Spanish for “lizard”. Later, when English settlers heard el lagarto spoken fast, they spelled what they heard as alligator.

30. Homophones Homophones are sometimes at the end of a definition.
hair (hair) noun The mass of fine, soft strands that grow on your head or body or on the body of an animal.
Hair sounds like hare.

31. Labeled Illustrations
Show you the details of objects defined in main entries.
Some of the labels in the illustrations are entry words, and others are not.
The labels that are not entry words are listed in the Index of Picture Labels on pages 663 and 664.

32. Reference Section
This section contains many helpful references including:
Braille and American Sign Language Alphabet
Grammar Guide
Punctuation Guide
Idioms Guide
Map of the Continents
Map of the World
Braille and Sign Language page 633.
Grammar Guide pages 634 and 635.
Punctuation Guide pages 636 and 637.
Idioms pages 638 and 639.
Map of Continents pages 640 and 641.
Map of the world 642 and 643.

33. Reference Section Flags and Facts: Countries of the World
Map of the United States
Map of U.S. Territories
Map of Canada
Facts About the 50 States
Facts About U.S. Territories
Presidents of the United States
Measurement Tables
Flags and Facts pages
Maps pages
Facts about the 50 states pages
Facts about U.S. Territories and Canadian Provinces and Territories page 657.
U.S. Presidents pages
Measurement Tables page 662.
Index of Picture labels pages 663 and 664.

34. Great Resources
Take advantage of the great wealth of information found in dictionaries.
Use the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary to utilize all of the terrific features it offers to students.