"What is a dictionary?" .....silence
"What do you do with this book?" (teacher points to dictionary).....silence
"What is IN a dictionary?" ......silence
I spent the first 15 minutes of my Grade 6 class yesterday trying to explain what a dictionary is. I wanted to make sure the kids understood the words "mystery and crime" before we jumped into reading "The Mystery of the Broken Window" story that I did with Grade 7 earlier this week. Grade 7 knew what a dictionary was for, and could even find the two words (mystery and crime) very quickly. Grade 6 on the other hand......
I was so surprised that they had NO CLUE how to use the dictionary (Sotho to English), that I become frustrated. I tried not to show it, but their teacher (who, in her defense, is sick w/ the flu) was uninterested and didn't seem to notice I was struggling.......struggling really really bad!
I wish I could yell, scream, and stomp my feet at the teachers and school administration: "How do your students not know what a dictionary is?!?!"
So now I'm putting together a "This is a Dictionary" lesson plan for my grade 6 learners. I'll probably play it safe and do this lesson with Grade 4-7. Might as well....
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