Many of us have had the experience of being completely absorbed in a fascinating book, but periodically, and sometimes often, coming across words with which we are unfamiliar. It can be frustrating to stop in the middle of a sentence or paragraph and to look up a word in the dictionary. It takes away from the magic and flow of the story, not to mention the fact that it is a rather dry and boring task. Also, it is not the best way to improve one's vocabulary. It may be tempting to immediately check the meaning of a word that you don't know, but research and the experience of many students has shown that this is not a very effective method of learning new information. When we are simply given a definition for a word, we may be able to remember it in the short term, but if we encounter the word in a different context at some point in the future, we are unlikely to recall its meaning. However, if we have figured out the meaning of the word for ourselves, by paying close attention to the manner in which it was used in the sentence or paragraph, and if we practice using the word in different contexts, we are much more likely to remember it in future. This is because when information becomes meaningful, that is, when we truly understand it and can apply it in different situations, then it can more easily be stored in our long-term memory so that we will have access to it whenever we might need it again. This is not the case if we simply memorize information.The aim of this book, therefore, is to encourage students to use their critical thinking skills by asking them to figure out the meaning of words by looking at how they are used in the context of a story. Each chapter of the book coincides with a chapter of the book Anne of Green Gables. To use this book, it would be helpful if the student had a copy of Anne of Green Gables or had read it recently so that they are familiar with the story. Each chapter of this book begins with a list of ten words, and each word is followed by the sentence(s) in which it is used in the story. The student must study the words and sentences, and try to decipher the meaning of each word based on the context given. The first activity in each chapter involves writing each word beneath its definition. The definitions are in a different order than in the original list. The student must pay special attention to spelling and check their answers by referring to the answer section at the back of the book. The second activity in each chapter involves filling in the blanks in the sentences with the words on the list. Again, the words are in a different order than in the original list and, this time, the form of the word may need to be changed in order to be used correctly in the sentence. The student can then check over their spelling, and check their answers by referring to the answer section at the back of the book.It is important to fully read and understand all instructions before beginning each activity. The purpose of this book is to encourage students to think critically about new words rather than just memorizing them, and to practice using them in new sentences, to ensure that they have truly understood their meaning. It is only in this way that they can remember the words long-term and be able to apply them in new contexts in the future.
