Lexicon
The inventory of words of a language or the whole vocabulary of a person.
SpellBee International focuses on 1000-5000 age-appropriate words for every grade and has focused all its 15 exercises to reinforce the meaning and appropriate use of these words.
Example words taken for better explanation in this brochure: fore, run, forerunner, etc.
Key Points
Word bank, Spelling, Kinds of words, Forms of words, Word sounds, Inflections, Derivations, Compound words, Phrasal verbs, Agglutination, Neologic words, Foreign words, etc. A catalogue of special words like Currencies of the world, Food items, Cyber words, Science words, Math-related words, Sports words, Social science-related words, Management-related words, Career and Character Words, etc. are provided for every Grade.
Rounds
Rounds – 1,11 and 12
Spell it Right (Word bank)
Word Weaving
Compound Words and Kinds/Types of Words
Outcomes
• Learning and retaining new words
• Vocabulary knowledge with speedy access to words for appropriate usage
• Develop reading speed
• Expansion of Lexicon (known word bank) grows year by year
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Phonology - Through Phonetics
It deals with the study of speech sounds based on the sound.
SpellBee International has developed a systematic classification of sounds of English Language.
E.g. FORERUNNERS – /ˈfɔːˌrʌn.ərs/
Key Points
- Speech organs – Read only
- Reading and writing phonemic transcriptions
- The sound variations in the 44 sounds of English
(Monophthongs, Diphthongs and Consonants)
Rounds
Rounds – 8
Phonetics – Exercises help in understanding silent letters, the sound differences between different phonemes, homophones, etc.
Outcomes
• Understand the phonetic symbols in the dictionary and improve pronunciation
• Understand the English Sound System
• Be sensitive to small variations in sounds
• Apply the knowledge of English phonetics to improve their own pronunciation
• Differentiate the sound change in various vowel sounds and consonant patterns & sounds
• Understand how to speak English with correct pronunciation without much guidance
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MORPHOLOGY THROUGH ETYMOLOGY
Key Points
- Morphemes (Smallest meaningful units) e.g. Pend, ment, tele
- Word analsyis Fore + Runner + s
Rounds
Rounds -2
Word Analysis
Outcomes
- Contextual guessing
- Paying attention to word formation
- Utilising contextual clues from root words and guessing the meaning of unfamiliar words
- Encoding and remembering
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Inflectional & Derivational Morphology
Inflections are alterations in the form of a word indicating the change in its form
E.g. RUN becomes RAN, RUNS, RUNNING Derivation is the formation of a new word from a base word, usually by using a prefix and/or a suffix and sometimes by an infix.
Prefixing– Forerun, Outrun, Overrun, Rerun
Suffixing– Runner, Runners, Runny, Runnier, Runniest, Running
Key Points
- Derivational affixes, Inflectional affixes
- Grammatical units (ed, ing, ly, y), Inflectional endings
- Stem and base forms of words, bound and free Morpheme
- Lexemes, new word formations
Rounds
Rounds – 3
Inflections
Outcomes
- Knowledge in forming a new word or new form of a word
- Produce accurate grammatical forms of word in sentences
- Understanding the blending and mashing of two words or partial words to form a new word
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LEXICAL SEMANTICS
It is all about word meanings – especially understanding multi-meaning words and how they change their meaning from one context to another.
Meanings
FORERUNNER
- a person or thing that came before and paved the way for something
- a person / sign which acts as a warning of something that is about to occur
synonyms
- antecedent / prototype / pioneer
- messenger / herald
Antonyms
descendant
Key Points
Homophones, Heteronyms, Homonyms, Other word forms,Pictorial Associations, Arriving at appropriate, alternative words for the context
Rounds
Round – 6, 10 and 13
Words and meanings
Crossword
Synonyms and Antonyms
Outcomes
• Knowledge in meanings of the words
• Retaining the new words learned, by associating them with the pictures provided
• Knowledge about the context in which the words are applied and understanding the implied meaning
• Getting better at creative writing and effective communication with the knowledge of synonyms
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PHRASEOLOGY
The study of the manner in which words or set of words are used to form phrases, idioms and other fixed expressions that can be used as a part of sentences or used as such in informal dialogues.
first runner – wrong / forerunner – right
forerunner on / in – wrong forerunner of / to – right
Takshashila: the first forerunner of all world universities – wrong
Takshashila: the early forerunner of all world universities. – right
Key Points
Collocations, Patterns and Manners of word links and construction, Cultural Expressions, Phrases, Idioms, Proverbs and Adages
Rounds
Round – 3 and 14
Collocations
Idioms, Phrases and Proverbs
Outcomes
- Knowledge in forming a new word or new form of a word
- Produce accurate grammatical forms of word in sentences
- Understanding the blending and mashing of two words or partial words to form a new word
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SYNTAX
It is the structure of arrangement of words at a phrasal and sentence level.
FORERUNNER in sentences:
The sundial is the forerunner of clocks.
Sundials foreran clocks.
Did sundials forerun clocks?
Whoa, sundial foreruns clocks by several hundred years!
Forerunning clocks, sundials marked and predicted time accurately throughout the year.
Were there any forerunners to sundials?
Key Points
Sentence Types, Purpose, Structure,
Sentence Fragments, Clauses, Subject Verb Agreement,Verb Tense Forms, Modifiers.
Usage of homophones and commonly confused words insentences: Much/Many; Latter/Later; Eminent/Imminent; Compliment/Complement; Former/Earlier, etc.
Rounds
Round – 4 and 7
Find the Correct Sentence
Form the Correct Sentence
Outcomes
- Using a variety of sentences appropriately and accurately
- Using correct grammar structure
- Ability to spot and correct common errors (useful in aptitude/entrance exams)
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COMPREHENSION
It is the ability to analyse, interpret and understand the given text.
FORERUNNER in a poem
A POEM
“Mind is the forerunner of all things.
Mind is their master. They are all mind-made.
Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakeable.”
Key Points
- A kind of poem (couplet, limerick, etc.)
- A famous news article from history
- An interesting letter from/to celebrated personalities
- An advertisement/poster
- A dialogue from a recommended fiction book
- A product’s label
Rounds
Round – 9
Reading Comprehension
Outcomes
- Scan for details and skim to main ideas swiftly
- Distinguish facts from opinion, main ideas from supporting details
- Identify author’s purpose and tone
- Locate and select relevant information
- Identify key points, synthesise and organize information for effective delivery
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LITERARY EXPRESSIONS - GK
It is for a holistic understanding and appreciation for literature, the individuals who produced these masterpieces and the literary devices they handled.
POEM: FORERUNNERS – RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Key Points
Recommended Authors – Age appropriate Famous Literary Characters, Usage of Literary devices
Flashback, Flashforward, Myth, Onomatopeia, Genre, Riddle, Biography, Auto- Biography, Stanza, Palindrome, Homophones, Conflict, Dialect, Slang, Ode, Setting, Fantasy, Nemesis, Drama, Tragedy, Ambiguity, Pun, Sonnet, Plot. Imagery, Limerick, Sarcasm,Simile, Metaphor, Dilemma, Flat Character, Dynamic, Cliché – 90 literary devices handled in all groups together.
Rounds
Round – 5 and 9
Literature-based GK
Reading Comprehension
Outcomes
- Better knowledge of different authors, books, etc.
- Awareness on age-appropriate books to read
- Analysis and understanding of the characters, actions, motives and values in the fictional and non fictional books to live a better life
- Use literary devices to enliven writing
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PRAGMATICS
It deals with the contextual meaning of words in a given expression depending on the user’s assumption, expectation, etc.
FORERUNNER – CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Since dinosaurs lived more than 230 million years ago, they were thought to be one of the first animals. But there were far too many forerunners to dinosaurs like the Haikouichthys, Astraspis etc.Platypuses, green sea turtles, crocodiles coexisted with dinosaurs. Cockroaches predate dinosaurs but continues to live till today!
Key Points
Story Sequencing, Chronological order, Logical Order, Decision making order, Analogical order, Emphatic order, Climactic Order, Compare and contrast, Deductive Reasoning, Process Paragraph, Cause and Effect Order
Critical Reasoning, Narrative Paragraph, Problem and Solution Order, Persuasive Poem, Inductive Reasoning Analytical Paragraph, Experimental Report Writing, Narrative Writing ‘‘How-to’ poem/‘How-to’ Paragraph, Argument and Counter argument
Rounds
Round – 15
Presenting an Argument
Outcomes
High order thinking skills
Enhancement of reflection skills
Identifying contextual clues
Integrating perspectives by better textual level comprehension
Demonstrating the ability to think critically
Understanding the factors such as time, place and the context in which an expression is made
analysing speaker’s and receiver’s understanding
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