Joanna MW
@jbalaena.bsky.social
Independent specialist in SpLD (M.Ed, AMBDA); previously English teacher & Glos LA Lead English
Teacher. Dyslexia and dyscalculia specialist teacher. Wife, vicar’s wife, mama of 4, SEN parent carer. Neurodivergent. greatexpectationseducation.uk
Teacher. Dyslexia and dyscalculia specialist teacher. Wife, vicar’s wife, mama of 4, SEN parent carer. Neurodivergent. greatexpectationseducation.uk
A ‘seuil’ is not the door.
It’s the stone beneath it.
From Latin ‘solea’ – the sole of a foot or shoe – the word names the place where the foot lands when you cross in or out. A threshold is contact before concept. bit.ly/ateliermots
It’s the stone beneath it.
From Latin ‘solea’ – the sole of a foot or shoe – the word names the place where the foot lands when you cross in or out. A threshold is contact before concept. bit.ly/ateliermots
February 12, 2026 at 7:34 PM
A ‘seuil’ is not the door.
It’s the stone beneath it.
From Latin ‘solea’ – the sole of a foot or shoe – the word names the place where the foot lands when you cross in or out. A threshold is contact before concept. bit.ly/ateliermots
It’s the stone beneath it.
From Latin ‘solea’ – the sole of a foot or shoe – the word names the place where the foot lands when you cross in or out. A threshold is contact before concept. bit.ly/ateliermots
Reposted by Joanna MW
A ‘clé’ is what opens. A door. A system. A piece of music.
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
February 10, 2026 at 7:34 PM
A ‘clé’ is what opens. A door. A system. A piece of music.
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
A ‘clé’ is what opens. A door. A system. A piece of music.
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
February 10, 2026 at 7:34 PM
A ‘clé’ is what opens. A door. A system. A piece of music.
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘clavis’, a key or bolt that controls access.
Whether written ‘clé’ or ‘clef’, the logic is the same: access comes first. bit.ly/ateliermots
Reposted by Joanna MW
‘Mozzarella’ means ‘a little cut piece’—from Latin ‘mutilus’ via Italian ‘mozzare’. A word shaped by the same gesture that forms the cheese. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/mozzarella
January 14, 2026 at 7:35 PM
‘Mozzarella’ means ‘a little cut piece’—from Latin ‘mutilus’ via Italian ‘mozzare’. A word shaped by the same gesture that forms the cheese. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/mozzarella
Reposted by Joanna MW
Ricotta comes from Latin recōcta ‘recooked’—a word that still carries the heat of Roman dairies. Explore its story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/ricotta
January 16, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Ricotta comes from Latin recōcta ‘recooked’—a word that still carries the heat of Roman dairies. Explore its story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/ricotta
Reposted by Joanna MW
Ours still isn’t as thin as a true Neapolitan, but the word ‘pizza’ has travelled further. First written in 997 AD, it may come from Greek ‘pitta’ for ‘cake’ or Lombardic ‘pizzo’ greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pizza
January 19, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Ours still isn’t as thin as a true Neapolitan, but the word ‘pizza’ has travelled further. First written in 997 AD, it may come from Greek ‘pitta’ for ‘cake’ or Lombardic ‘pizzo’ greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pizza
Reposted by Joanna MW
From Latin sal ‘salt’ to Italian salame, salami still means ‘a salted thing’. Explore its journey from Roman kitchens to modern delis: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/salami
January 21, 2026 at 7:39 PM
From Latin sal ‘salt’ to Italian salame, salami still means ‘a salted thing’. Explore its journey from Roman kitchens to modern delis: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/salami
Reposted by Joanna MW
‘Spaghetti’ began as Italian for ‘little cords’. Its roots reach from Arab Sicily to Neapolitan kitchens, carrying a story of shape, language, and shared food culture. bit.ly/GEEwords greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
January 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
‘Spaghetti’ began as Italian for ‘little cords’. Its roots reach from Arab Sicily to Neapolitan kitchens, carrying a story of shape, language, and shared food culture. bit.ly/GEEwords greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
Reposted by Joanna MW
A ‘sentier’ is a narrow path made by repeated walking.
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
January 29, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A ‘sentier’ is a narrow path made by repeated walking.
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
Reposted by Joanna MW
A ‘poignée’ is the part of something you hold with your hand. Door handles, drawer pulls, bag handles. From ‘poing’ meaning ‘fist’, via Latin ‘pugnus’. A word anchored in the action of the hand closing, not in how an object looks. bit.ly/ateliermots
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
A ‘poignée’ is the part of something you hold with your hand. Door handles, drawer pulls, bag handles. From ‘poing’ meaning ‘fist’, via Latin ‘pugnus’. A word anchored in the action of the hand closing, not in how an object looks. bit.ly/ateliermots
A ‘poignée’ is the part of something you hold with your hand. Door handles, drawer pulls, bag handles. From ‘poing’ meaning ‘fist’, via Latin ‘pugnus’. A word anchored in the action of the hand closing, not in how an object looks. bit.ly/ateliermots
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
A ‘poignée’ is the part of something you hold with your hand. Door handles, drawer pulls, bag handles. From ‘poing’ meaning ‘fist’, via Latin ‘pugnus’. A word anchored in the action of the hand closing, not in how an object looks. bit.ly/ateliermots
‘Volet’ is the French word for a window shutter. From Latin ‘volare’, ‘to fly’, naming a panel by how it moves.
Photographed in Cordes-sur-Ciel.
bit.ly/ateliermots
Photographed in Cordes-sur-Ciel.
bit.ly/ateliermots
February 2, 2026 at 7:43 PM
‘Volet’ is the French word for a window shutter. From Latin ‘volare’, ‘to fly’, naming a panel by how it moves.
Photographed in Cordes-sur-Ciel.
bit.ly/ateliermots
Photographed in Cordes-sur-Ciel.
bit.ly/ateliermots
A ‘sentier’ is a narrow path made by repeated walking.
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
January 29, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A ‘sentier’ is a narrow path made by repeated walking.
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
From Latin ‘semita’, a small footpath. I’ve been uploading words like ‘maison’, ‘bâtiment’, ‘ancien’, this week. ‘Sentier’ belongs alongside them. I use etymology to help my dyslexic Y7 learner make sense of French vocabulary.
bit.ly/ateliermots
‘Spaghetti’ began as Italian for ‘little cords’. Its roots reach from Arab Sicily to Neapolitan kitchens, carrying a story of shape, language, and shared food culture. bit.ly/GEEwords greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
January 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
‘Spaghetti’ began as Italian for ‘little cords’. Its roots reach from Arab Sicily to Neapolitan kitchens, carrying a story of shape, language, and shared food culture. bit.ly/GEEwords greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
From Latin sal ‘salt’ to Italian salame, salami still means ‘a salted thing’. Explore its journey from Roman kitchens to modern delis: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/salami
January 21, 2026 at 7:39 PM
From Latin sal ‘salt’ to Italian salame, salami still means ‘a salted thing’. Explore its journey from Roman kitchens to modern delis: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/salami
Ours still isn’t as thin as a true Neapolitan, but the word ‘pizza’ has travelled further. First written in 997 AD, it may come from Greek ‘pitta’ for ‘cake’ or Lombardic ‘pizzo’ greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pizza
January 19, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Ours still isn’t as thin as a true Neapolitan, but the word ‘pizza’ has travelled further. First written in 997 AD, it may come from Greek ‘pitta’ for ‘cake’ or Lombardic ‘pizzo’ greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pizza
Ricotta comes from Latin recōcta ‘recooked’—a word that still carries the heat of Roman dairies. Explore its story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/ricotta
January 16, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Ricotta comes from Latin recōcta ‘recooked’—a word that still carries the heat of Roman dairies. Explore its story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/ricotta
‘Mozzarella’ means ‘a little cut piece’—from Latin ‘mutilus’ via Italian ‘mozzare’. A word shaped by the same gesture that forms the cheese. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/mozzarella
January 14, 2026 at 7:35 PM
‘Mozzarella’ means ‘a little cut piece’—from Latin ‘mutilus’ via Italian ‘mozzare’. A word shaped by the same gesture that forms the cheese. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/mozzarella
From Sanskrit ‘urvāruka’ to Latin ‘cucumis’ and Old French ‘cocombre’, the cucumber’s name has travelled far. 🥒
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
January 12, 2026 at 7:35 PM
From Sanskrit ‘urvāruka’ to Latin ‘cucumis’ and Old French ‘cocombre’, the cucumber’s name has travelled far. 🥒
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
English ‘strawberry’ may remember a lost summer custom — threading wild berries onto a straw of grass. Most European tongues still say ‘earth berry’ or ‘fragrant fruit’. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
January 9, 2026 at 7:35 PM
English ‘strawberry’ may remember a lost summer custom — threading wild berries onto a straw of grass. Most European tongues still say ‘earth berry’ or ‘fragrant fruit’. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
Exploring the word ‘shine’, from Old English ‘scinan’ to the Hebrew root in Isaiah’s ‘arise, shine’. A journey through brightness, radiance and becoming light.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #shine #light #isaiah #hebrew #wordhistory #advent
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #shine #light #isaiah #hebrew #wordhistory #advent
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Exploring the word ‘shine’, from Old English ‘scinan’ to the Hebrew root in Isaiah’s ‘arise, shine’. A journey through brightness, radiance and becoming light.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #shine #light #isaiah #hebrew #wordhistory #advent
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #shine #light #isaiah #hebrew #wordhistory #advent
‘Dream’ once meant joy before it meant a night vision. In Matthew the Greek word is ‘onar’, a dream sent from God.
Full word card: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#AdventEtymology #BibleStudy #Onar #Dream #Matthew2 #WordOrigins #GreekNT #Nativity #GreatExpectationsEducation
Full word card: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#AdventEtymology #BibleStudy #Onar #Dream #Matthew2 #WordOrigins #GreekNT #Nativity #GreatExpectationsEducation
January 5, 2026 at 7:37 PM
‘Dream’ once meant joy before it meant a night vision. In Matthew the Greek word is ‘onar’, a dream sent from God.
Full word card: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#AdventEtymology #BibleStudy #Onar #Dream #Matthew2 #WordOrigins #GreekNT #Nativity #GreatExpectationsEducation
Full word card: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#AdventEtymology #BibleStudy #Onar #Dream #Matthew2 #WordOrigins #GreekNT #Nativity #GreatExpectationsEducation
A look at the history of ‘star’, from the ancient root ster- meaning ‘to scatter’ to the Greek ‘astēr’ in Matthew’s Nativity. A word shaped by brightness and guidance.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #star #advent #nativity #magi #linguistics #wordhistory #greatexpectationse
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #star #advent #nativity #magi #linguistics #wordhistory #greatexpectationse
January 3, 2026 at 7:38 PM
A look at the history of ‘star’, from the ancient root ster- meaning ‘to scatter’ to the Greek ‘astēr’ in Matthew’s Nativity. A word shaped by brightness and guidance.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #star #advent #nativity #magi #linguistics #wordhistory #greatexpectationse
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#etymology #star #advent #nativity #magi #linguistics #wordhistory #greatexpectationse
‘Worship’ began as ‘worth-ship’. Greek adds the idea of approaching and bowing low. A small word with a long journey.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#advent #worship #etymology #languagehistory #matthew22 #wordstudy
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#advent #worship #etymology #languagehistory #matthew22 #wordstudy
January 2, 2026 at 7:37 PM
‘Worship’ began as ‘worth-ship’. Greek adds the idea of approaching and bowing low. A small word with a long journey.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#advent #worship #etymology #languagehistory #matthew22 #wordstudy
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#advent #worship #etymology #languagehistory #matthew22 #wordstudy
From Germanic thought to Greek grace, this word carries a long history of gratitude.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#thanks #etymology #advent #luke2 #eucharisteo #wordcards
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#thanks #etymology #advent #luke2 #eucharisteo #wordcards
January 1, 2026 at 7:43 PM
From Germanic thought to Greek grace, this word carries a long history of gratitude.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#thanks #etymology #advent #luke2 #eucharisteo #wordcards
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
#thanks #etymology #advent #luke2 #eucharisteo #wordcards