Glossary: Terms Starting with A
65 definitions in English & Language Arts with links to the lessons that teach each word.
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All terms starting with A
abbreviation
EnglishFrom Grade 3
a shortened form of a word
Learn it in: Simple note-taking (Grade 3), Note-taking (Grade 5), Note-taking (Grade 6)
academic discussion
EnglishFrom Grade 6
a structured talk where participants share and test ideas
Learn it in: Academic discussions (Grade 6)
academic listening
EnglishFrom Grade 6
listening to learn from lessons, lectures and talks
Learn it in: Academic listening (Grade 6)
academic vocabulary
EnglishFrom Grade 5
words used often in school subjects
Learn it in: Academic vocabulary (Grade 5)
according to
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a phrase that names the source
Learn it in: Using evidence orally (Grade 4)
accuracy
EnglishFrom Grade 3
reading words correctly
Learn it in: Reading fluently (Grade 3), Reading fluency (Grade 4)
accuracy rate
EnglishFrom Grade 3
the percentage of words read correctly
Learn it in: Monitoring reading accuracy (Grade 3)
accurate
EnglishFrom Grade 2
correct with no mistakes
Learn it in: Accurate word recognition (Grade 2), Evaluating spoken information (Grade 4), Evaluating explanations (Grade 5)
acrostic
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a poem where the first letters spell a word
Learn it in: Poetry forms (Grade 4)
act
EnglishFrom Grade 1
pretend to be someone
Learn it in: Acting out stories (Grade 1), Base words and roots (Grade 3)
action
EnglishFrom Grade 1
a movement
Learn it in: Nursery rhymes (Grade 1), Character actions and motivations (Grade 2)
action beat
EnglishFrom Grade 4
an action between lines of speech
action step
EnglishFrom Grade 6
a small step toward a goal
Learn it in: Reflective communication (Grade 6)
action word
EnglishFrom Grade 1
a word that tells what someone does
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Action words (Grade 1)
active listening
EnglishFrom Grade 5
listening with full attention and understanding
Learn it in: Active listening (Grade 5)
addition
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a transition that adds an idea
Learn it in: Transitions (Grade 4), Transitions (Grade 5), Transitions (Grade 6)
adjective
EnglishFrom Grade 1
the grammar name for a describing word
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Describing words (Grade 1), Describing words (Grade 1), Writing short descriptions (Grade 1)
adverb
EnglishFrom Grade 2
a word that describes a verb
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Adverbs (Grade 2), Adjectives and adverbs (Grade 3), Parts of speech (Grade 4)
advert
EnglishFrom Grade 2
a message that tries to sell something
Learn it in: Understanding media messages (Grade 2)
affix
EnglishFrom Grade 3
a prefix or a suffix
Learn it in: Prefixes and suffixes (Grade 3), Morphology (Grade 5)
agreement
EnglishFrom Grade 3
when subject and verb match
Learn it in: Subject–verb agreement (Grade 3), Subject–verb agreement (Grade 4), Pronoun reference (Grade 6)
alliteration
EnglishFrom Grade 3
repeated starting sounds
Learn it in: Literary language (Grade 3), Rhythm and imagery (Grade 4), Figurative language (Grade 5)
alphabet
EnglishFrom Grade 1
all the letters in order
Learn it in: Uppercase and lowercase letters (Grade 1), Consonant sounds (Grade 1)
alphabetical order
EnglishFrom Grade 2
in the order of the alphabet
Learn it in: Dictionary introduction (Grade 2), Dictionary skills (Grade 3)
alternative viewpoint
EnglishFrom Grade 6
a different opinion on the same issue
Learn it in: Alternative viewpoints (Grade 6)
analogy
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a comparison showing the same link between two pairs
Learn it in: Word relationships (Grade 4)
analyse
EnglishFrom Grade 4
to study something closely to understand it
Learn it in: Analytical questions (Grade 4), Morphological analysis (Grade 4), Academic vocabulary (Grade 4)
analysis
EnglishFrom Grade 6
explaining how the quotation supports your point
Learn it in: Literary response essays (Grade 6), Literary analysis (Grade 6)
analytical question
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a why or how question that needs thinking
Learn it in: Analytical questions (Grade 4), Analytical questions (Grade 6)
annotate
EnglishFrom Grade 6
to add notes in the margin or on the text
Learn it in: Independent reading strategies (Grade 6)
announcement
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a spoken message shared with a group
Learn it in: Listening for essential information (Grade 4)
answer
EnglishFrom Grade 1
what we say to reply to a question
Learn it in: Asking and answering questions (Grade 1), Answering basic comprehension questions (Grade 1), Question marks (Grade 1)
antagonist
EnglishFrom Grade 6
a force or character opposing the main character
Learn it in: Conflict (Grade 6)
antecedent
EnglishFrom Grade 4
the noun that a pronoun refers to
Learn it in: Pronoun reference (Grade 4), Pronoun usage (Grade 5), Pronoun reference (Grade 6)
antonym
EnglishFrom Grade 2
a word with the opposite meaning
Learn it in: Antonyms (Grade 2), Synonyms and antonyms (Grade 3), Prefixes and suffixes (Grade 4)
apostrophe
EnglishFrom Grade 2
a mark like ’ used in contractions and possession
Learn it in: Commas and apostrophes (Grade 2), Punctuation and editing (Grade 3), Punctuation and editing (Grade 4)
apply
EnglishFrom Grade 6
to put knowledge to use
Learn it in: Academic vocabulary application (Grade 6)
arguable
EnglishFrom Grade 6
able to be debated by reasonable people
Learn it in: Developing claims (Grade 6)
argument
EnglishFrom Grade 5
a claim supported by reasons and evidence
Learn it in: Claims and reasons (Grade 5), Summarising spoken arguments (Grade 6), Comparing arguments (Grade 6)
argumentative essay
EnglishFrom Grade 6
an essay that tries to persuade with reasoned support
Learn it in: Organising arguments (Grade 6)
assessment
EnglishFrom Grade 1
a way to check what you know
Learn it in: Phonics review and assessment (Grade 1), Final Grade 6 literacy assessment (Grade 6)
assumption
EnglishFrom Grade 6
something taken for granted without proof
Learn it in: Critical thinking (Grade 6)
atmosphere
EnglishFrom Grade 4
the mood or feeling of a scene
Learn it in: Setting and atmosphere (Grade 4), Descriptive techniques (Grade 5), Tone and mood (Grade 6)
audience
EnglishFrom Grade 1
people who listen
Learn it in: Creating oral stories (Grade 1), Sharing information orally (Grade 1), Presenting personal experiences (Grade 1)
audience effect
EnglishFrom Grade 6
how a text affects its readers
Learn it in: Comparing genres (Grade 6)
author
EnglishFrom Grade 1
the person who writes the words
Learn it in: Picture books (Grade 1), Finding information (Grade 3), Introductory citations (Grade 6)
author’s approach
EnglishFrom Grade 6
how the author handles the subject
Learn it in: Complex informational texts (Grade 6)
author’s note
EnglishFrom Grade 4
a short note from the writer
Learn it in: Publishing creative writing (Grade 4)
author’s purpose
EnglishFrom Grade 4
the reason an author writes a text
Learn it in: Author’s purpose (Grade 4), Author’s choices (Grade 5)
auxiliary verb
EnglishFrom Grade 5
a helping verb such as have, has, was, were
Learn it in: Verb forms (Grade 5)