Veterans Park, 7600 NW 50th Street, Lauderhill, FL 33351
Home | Club News | Our Players/Passages | Club Stats | Fun Page | Links | Letters/Contact Us
Need Score Sheets? Click the following links and print as many score sheets as you want! Lined, Unlined, NSA Score Sheets Useful Scrabble® Links
 CLICK HERE TO HELP END WORLD HUNGER. Take this vocabulary test to see how many grains of rice you can have donated through the United Nations World Food Program with your correct answers. 1 word = 10 grains 5 words = 50 grains Please play daily and help feed hungry people. ========== What's an evening like at the Lauderhill Scrabble® Club #276? Read John Thomason's June 2007 article which appeared in the Sun-Sentinel. "Lauderhill Scrabble Club #276 is Not for Novices."
| Want to Play Scrabble Like a Pro? Here’s Your Memory Trick  By Ulrich Boser - April 1, 2017Bennett Schwartz is one of the nation’s leading memory experts, and when I visited him in his office at Florida International University, he was standing at his desk. A soft sunlight crowded the room. Large windows framed the palm tree-lined quad outside.Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and slacks, Schwartz appeared to be quietly talking to himself, with hushed, mumbled words, and for a long moment, it seemed as if he was some sort of monk, living in another, more esoteric world. “Hi?” I said tentatively. Schwartz turned around, putting the book away with an easy gesture. It turned out that when I walked into the room, Schwartz was honing his Scrabble skills. He had a Scrabble tournament the next day, and he was practicing words from a book devoted to the game. “The director is allowing me to play against the good Scrabble players,” Schwartz told me, laughing. “I have to make sure I know my words.” So how exactly does one of the nation’s premier memory experts develop his Scrabble skills? Well, Schwartz uses a type of self-quizzing: In order to hone his expertise, he’s constantly interrogating himself to see if he can recall various Scrabble words. So when Schwartz stops at a red light—or if he’s just waiting in his office—he’ll ask himself questions about what he’s learned as well as what he aims to learn. The learning strategy has shown clear results, helping Schwartz become a nationally ranked player, boosting his Scrabble rating by more than 25 percent over the past few years. Known as retrieval practice, the approach to learning fills the recent literature on memory, sometimes showing effects some 50 percent more than other forms of learning. In one study, one group of subjects read a passage four times. A second group read the passage just one time, but then the same group practiced recalling the passage three times. But when the researchers followed up with both groups a few days later, the group that had practiced recalling the passage learned significantly more. In other words, subjects who tried to recall the information instead of rereading it showed far more expertise. Within the learning sciences, retrieval practice is sometimes referred as the testing effect since the practice is a matter of people asking themselves specific questions about what they learned. But in many ways, the idea goes much deeper than self-quizzing, and what’s important about retrieval practice is that people take steps to recall what they know. They ask themselves questions about their knowledge, making sure that it can be produced. More concretely, retrieval practice isn’t like a multiple-choice test, which has people choose from a few answers, or even a Scrabble game, where you hunt in your memory for a high-point word. Retrieval practice is more like writing a five-sentence essay in your head: You’re recalling the idea and summarizing it in a way that makes sense. In this regard, we can think of retrieval practice as a type of mental doing: It’s a way to create the webs of meaning that support what we know. As psychologist Bob Bjork told me, “The act of retrieving information from our memories is a powerful learning event.” A lot of the benefit of retrieval practice is explained by the nature of long-term memory, and Schwartz describes long-term memory as being like the sprawling, chaotic bedroom of a teenager. It might seem messy from the outside, but the disorder makes a lot of sense to the people who live there. “Each of us has his or her own subjective organization strategies, which may not be obvious to others, but give us each or own unique associations and memory,” Schwartz told me. The key to recalling memories is to have cues that closely link up with a memory, Schwartz says. When we have strong associations, we can more easily recall a word or idea. Because if “cues change, finding that missing word or event is like looking for a particular t-shirt among the chaos of the mess,” he says. We simply can’t find it. In this regard, retrieval practice helps us recall memories because it more closely links cues and their associated memories. It pushes us to foster associations—and make more durable forms of knowledge. As Schwartz argues, “it’s the growing mess and the lack of the organizational cues that makes memory fade.” The benefits of retrieval practice go far beyond facts or games, and there are ways to use self-quizzing to develop conceptual understanding. One student recommends that people first create a pile of cards that lists facts. Then people should build a second pile that asks things like “give a real life example” or “draw this concept.” In this approach, people learn by picking one card from the first pile and a card from the second pile, and then executing the task. Retrieval practice doesn’t have to be written down, either. When I was in college, I worked as a teaching assistant for a class that relied on a form of retrieval practice, and once a week, I would gather a group of students in a classroom and verbally ask them rapid-fire questions. The class was relatively short—just 45 minutes a week. But it was easy to see the effects of the free-recall type of practice, and the more the students retrieved their knowledge, the more they learned. As for Schwartz, he did well at the Scrabble tournament on the day after our interview. The director placed him in one of the highest divisions, and he went against some of the best players in the state of Florida. Using his technique of retrieval practice, Schwartz managed to notch wins in about a third of his games. As Schwartz modestly joked in a follow-up email, “I didn’t finish last, so I did OK.”  Ulrich Boser (@ulrichboser) a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. =================== SCRABBLE CLUB #276CELEBRATED ITS 28TH ANNUAL SCRABBLE AWARDS NIGHT ON JANUARY 11, 2017 |
| New Word | Definition and Extensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DA | dad [n -S] | family.txt |
| GI | a martial arts garment [n -S] | japanese.txt |
| PO | a chamber pot [n -S] | toilet.txt |
| TE | the musical note TI [n -S] |
New Three-Letter Words
According to NASPA, there are 66 new three-letter words. The following 66 are what we have found:
New Word Definition and Extensions Notes AJI a spicy pepper [n -S] CAF a cafeteria or cafe [n -S] : CAFF(s) coffee.txt CAL unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 CUZ coz (cousin) [n CUZZES] family.txt DAS da [n] DEP a convenience store [n -S] DOH the first tone of the diatonic scale, Homer [n -S] also an interjection DUM cooked with steam [adj] ECO ecology [n -S] EEW eeew [interj] EMO a style of rock music with emotional lyrics [n -S] : EMOCORE(s) EST a group technique for raising self-awareness [n -S] trademark? FAH fa [n -S] FOO a name for a temporary computer variable or file [n -S] finally, BAR has its missing companion. Computers.txt GIF a computer file in a type of image format [n -S] GIS gi [n] GRR use to express anger or annoyance [interj] HOM a sacred plant of the ancient Persians [n -S] : HOMA(s) HOO used to express surprise or apprechension [interj] LAH the tone la [n -S] LOR unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good LUD a form of address to a judge in a court, ma lud [n -S] LUN a lee [n -S] MAM mother, mama [n -S] family.txt MEH not impressive, boring [interj] MES unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good MMM mm [interj] MOI used instead of "who me?" to feign surprise when accused of something [interj] french.txt MUX to multiplex [v -ED -ING -ES] NAV navigation [n -S] aviation.txt NUG a chunk of wood sawn from a log [n -S] OCH used to express surprise or regret [interj] OIK a very rude or stupid person [n -S] stupid.txt OMA grandmother [n -S] : OPA(s) OOF used to express discomfort [interj] OPA grandfather [n -S] : OMA(s) family.txt ORG an organization [n -S] OWT anything [n -S] PAK a pack [n -S] PHO a Vietnamese soup of rice noodles and veg [n -S] POS plural of new PO, or the state of being infected or certain [adj] REZ reservation [n REZES or REZZES] ROO a kangaroo [n -S] RYU a school of Japanese martial arts [n -S] japanese.txt SAN a sanatorium [n -S] note SANS already good (different definition) SEV an Indian food of deepfried strands of flour [n -S] SEZ unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 SHO unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 SIG a short personalized message at the end of an email, a signature [n -S] computer.txt SOC a sociology course [n -ES] SOH another name for the tone sol [n -S] SUS to suss [v SUSED SUSING SUSES] TEC a detective [n -S] TES plural of the new TE TIX tickets [n/pl] TIZ tizzy [n TIZES] : TIZ TIZZ TIZZY TUM tummy [n -S] UMS new definition for um: to hesitate or pause in speaking [v UMMED UMMING UMS] UNI university or a uniform [n -S] VIN french wine [n -S] french.txt, alcohol.txt VOG air pollution caused by volcanic emissions [n -S] portmanteau WUZ unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 XED unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 YAS ya is an asian pear new definiton so now YAS is good. Fruit.txt YER unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 YEZ unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5
New Four-Letter Words
There hasn't been an announcement about the number of new four-letter words, but by comparing comparing MW online with OWL2 there appear to be 185 new fours:
New Word Definition and Extensions Notes ACAI a purple berrylike fruit of a tropical palm [n -S] fruit.txt ACRO a skiing event in which a skier performs acrobatic moves to music [n -S] AFRO a curly or frizzy hairstyle [n -S] about time! Hair.txt AGLU agloo [n -S] more Inuit AGRO a student of agricultural studies [n -S] AJIS aji [n] AREG areas of shifting desert sand dunes [n/pl] ARGH used to express despair or frustration [interj] : AUGH these get added to: AARGH AARRGH AARRGHH AUGH used to express despair or frustration [interj] : ARGH these get added to: AARGH AARRGH AARRGHH BANC a bench [n -S] french.txt BAWK an Atlantic seabird [n -S] birds.txt BAWN a meadow for cows [n -S] cows.txt BAZZ to throw (as a stone) [v -ED -ING -ES] BEAL an infected sore (a painful place on the body) [n -S] : BEALING(s) BIBE a creature whose crying is an omen of death [n -S] death.txt BING used to indicate a sudden action [interj] fruit.txt BISH a bishop [n -ES] religion.txt BLAG to rob with violence [v BLAGGED BLAGGING BLAGS] crime.txt BOBO a well-to-do person who holds bohemian values and leads a bourgeois life [n -S] BURK a berk [n -S] CAFS caf [n] coffee.txt CALS unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 CAMI a camisole [n -S] CAVA a sparkling Spanish wine [n -s] alcohol.txt CAZH slang for casual [adj] CERT an event considered certain to happen [n -S] CHEM a chemistry class or course [n -S] CHOC a piece of chocolate [n -S] candy.txt CINQ cinque (the number 5) [n -S] french.txt CLEG a horsefly [n -S] insects.txt CLIT unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good expurgated? COMM communications [n -S] : COMMO(s) CRIP unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good assuming this will be in expurgated list CUMS unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good assuming this will be in expurgated list DEPS dep [n] DESI a person of Indian, Pakistani, or Banladeshi birth who lives abroad [n -S] hindu.txt DEVI a Hindu goddess [n -S] hindu.txt DOBE adobe [n -S] already good:ADOBE DOBIE DOBY, polyorth list DOHS doh [n] also an interjection DOOB a doobie [n -S] smoking.txt DOSA an Indian pancake made from rice flour [n -S or -I] hindu.txt DOSH money [n] currency.txt DOUT to extinguish (as a fire) [v -ED -ING -S] fire.txt ECOS eco [n] EEEW used to express disgust [interj] : EEW EKKA a one-horse vehicle of India [n -S] EMOS emo [n] ERUV an enclosed area in which Jews are permitted to carry on activities normally forbidden on the Sabbath [n -S or -IM] ESSE essential nature [n -S] ESTS est [n] trademark? FAFF to make a fuss [v - ED -ING -S] FAHS fah [n] FILK a type of popular music that parodies folk songs [n -S] FOOS foo [n] finally, BAR has its missing companion. Computers.txt GACH to gatch [v -ED -ING -ES] : GACHER(s), GACH GATCH GAUCH GEAN unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good OED defines as a wild cherry, fruit.txt GIFS gif [n] GOJI a red berry [n -S] fruit.txt GRIZ a grizzly bear [n GRIZ] GYNO a gynecologist [n -S] : GYNIE(s) reproduction.txt GYPO a small-time logging operator [n -S] : GYPPO(s) trees.txt HEPS new definition for hep : hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) [n] disease.txt HIYA used as an informal greeting [interj] hellogoodbye.txt HMMM unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good HM and HMM already good. HOLO a hologram [n -S] HOMA a hom [n -S] HOMS hom [n] : HOMA(s) HORK to spit [v -ED -ING -S] HWYL an emotion that inspires impassioned eloquence [n -S] ICKS new definition for ick : something sticky or disgusting [n] JIRD a long-tailed rodent [n -S] JIZZ unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good predicting this will be in the expurgated list JOOK a tavern that has a jukebox [n -s} JUDY a woman [n JUDIES] names.txt KAPU a Hawaiian set of rules for daily life [n -S] KETA a type of salmon [n -S] fish.txt KRAI an administrative district in Russia [n -S] : KRAY(s) KRAY krai [n -S] LAHS lah [n] LARN to learn [v -ED or -T, -ING -S] LEDE the introductory section of a news story [n -S] another about time LEVS new plural for lev [n] : LEVA currency.txt LIAS a blue limestone rock [n -ES] LIPO liposuction [n -S] LOTO lotto [n -S] LUDO a simple board game [n -S] LUDS a form of address to a judge in a court, ma lud [n -S] LUNS lun [n] MAKI a sushi roll [n -S] japanese.txt MAMS mam [n] family.txt MECH a mechanic [n -S] cars.txt MOFO unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good predict this will be in the expurgated list MOHO a boundary separating the earth's crust and the mantle [n -S] MOOK a foolish or contemptible person, or a bad guy in a movie [n -S] MUNG a round green bean [n -S] MUSO a musician [n -S] NAES new plural, nae [n] NAGA a half-snake, half-human creature in Hinduism [n -S] hindu.txt NANO science that deals with materials on an atomic or molecular scale [n -S] numbers.txt NAVS nav [n] aviation.txt NEWB a newbie [n -S] NIFF to stink [v -ED -ING -S] NUFF enough [n -S] polyorth NUGS nug [n] NYAH used to express contempt for another [interj] OATY tasting or smelling of oats [adj OATIER OATIEST] OCHE a line behind which players stand when throwing darts [n -S] OFFA unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 OIKS oik [n] stupid.txt OLDE old [adj] OMAS oma [n] OPAS opa [n] family.txt ORGS org [n] OUTA unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good not in OSPD5 OWLY resembling an owl [adj OWLIER OWLIEST] birds.txt OWTS owt [n] OXER a fence for keeping in cattle [n -S] cows.txt OXIC denoting a process involving oxygen [adj] PAAN a betel leaf folded around pieces of betel nut and spices [n -S] PAKS pak [n] PALI a cliff in Hawaii [n -S] PAUA Maori name for abalone shell [n -S] (but IWI* is still not good) PERC a chemical used in dry cleaning [n -S] PHOS pho [n] PIPA a four-stringed Chinese lute [n -S] musicalinstruments.txt POGO to jump up and down as if on a pogo stick [v -ED -ING -S or -ES] trademark? PROB a problem [n -S] math.txt PUDU a small deer of South America [n -S] PULK a small sled [n -S] : PULKA(s) Inuit RENO a renovated house [n -S] places.txt ROOS roo [n] RUKH a roc [n -S] birds.txt RYUS ryu [n] japanese.txt SEPS an african lizard [n -ES] SEPSES already existed as a plural of SEPSIS. Reptiles.txt SESH a session [n -ES] SEVS sev [n] SHEN the spiritual element of a person's psyche [n SHEN] SHHH SH [interj} : SH SHH SHHH SH and SHH were good already SIGS sig [n] computer.txt SITU unknown : not in OSPD5 but MW site says it is good SITUS was already acceptable SKED to schedule [n SKEDDED SKEDDING SKEDS] SKOL to skoal (to drink to the health of) [v -ED -ING -S] alcohol.txt SKRY to scry [v -SKRIED SKRYING SKRIES] SOHS soh [n] SOJU a Korean vodka distilled from rice or sweet potato [n -S] alcohol.txt SUKH a souk [n -S] SOOK SOUK SUK SUQ already good. Polyorth SUMI a type of black Japanese ink [n -S] japanese.txt SUMY new definition and plural for sum: a monetary unit of Uzbekistan currency.txt TASE to stun with a gun that fires electified darts [v TASED TASING TASES] crime.txt TECS tec [n] TEGU a large lizard of South America [n -S] reptiles.txt TEIN a monetary unit of Kazakhstan [n -S] currency.txt TIAN a large oval cooking pot [n -S] TIYN tyin [n -S] : TIYIN(s) TIYN(s) TYIN TYIYN TYIN and TYIYN were already good (but they don�t take -S). Currency.txt TIZZ tizzy [n TIZZES] : TIZ TIZZ TIZZY TOCK a short, hollow sound [n -S] TOCO a South American toucan [n -S] birds.txt TOLT an isolated hill [n -S] mountain.txt TOSA a dog of a breed of mastiff [n -S] dogs.txt TREM an electric guitar lever for producing a tremolo [n -S] musicalinstruments.txt TROU trousers [n/pl] TUMS tum [n] TURR a murre [n -S] birds.txt UMMA the whole community of Muslims [n -S] : UMMAH(s) arabic.txt UMPH oomph [n -S] UNIS uni [n] VEGA a large plane or valley [n -S] VIFF to change direction abruptly of a VTOL aircraft [v -ED -ING -S] aviation.txt VINS vin [n] french.txt, alcohol.txt VLEI a hollow in South Africa in which water collects [n -S] VLOG to blog videos [v VLOGGED VLOGGING VLOGS] : VLOGGER(s) computer.txt VOGS vog [n] portmanteau VOLK the Afrikaner people [n -S] VULN to wound [v -ED -ING -S] WAAH used to express wailing [interj] WALI the governor of a province in an Arab country [n -S] WETA a large wingless insect of New Zealand [n -S] insects.txt WIKI a website that allows users to add and edit content [n -S] computer.txt YAGE a tropical vine of the Amazon region [n -S] YEOW used to express pain or shock [interj] YOMP to march with heavy gear over rough terrain [v -ED -ING -S] YOOF youth [n -S] YUZU an asian citrus fruit [n -S] fruit.txt, japanese.txt ZEDA grandfather [n -S : ZAIDA ZAIDEH ZAIDY ZEDA yiddish.txt ZIZZ to make a buzzing sound [v -ED -ING -ES]
===================================
***********************************
Click on this link to read the latest issue of
"The Last Word" - Club News: Scrabble Club 276
***************************************
It's a bird. It's a plane! No, it's Letter Man!
Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3 , Lesson 4 ,
Lesson 5 , Lesson 6 , Lesson 7, Lesson 8,
Lesson 9, Lesson 10,Lesson 11,
Lesson 12
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE CLUB NEWS!
|
|
See ourDisclaimer. Questions or Comments? Write to the Webmaster.
