morphemes: building blocks vocabulary instruction
TRANSCRIPT
M. Henry, 2021
Morphemes:Building Blocks Vocabulary Instruction
New Jersey Branch International Dyslexia AssociationOctober 1, 2021
Marcia K. Henry, PhD
“Nothing can express an idea as effectively as
a judicious use of words.”
Dhroov Bharatia, 12, one of 11 finalists in the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, as he describes his passion for language.
M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
Scarborough’s Reading Rope
(https://dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/readingrope-2010.jpg)
Scarborough, H.S.(2001). Connecting early language and literacy to later reading
(dis)abilities: Evidence, theory, and practice. In S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.)
Handbook for research in early literacy (pp. 97-110. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
What Do Students Need to Learn?
• Available clues such as context clues & structural clues
• Dictionary definitions & thesaurus entries
• Understanding semantic relationships such
as antonyms & synonyms
• Multiple meanings of many words
• Appreciation of figurative language such as
metaphors, idioms, similes, cliches, &
analogies.
Orthographic Reference Points
Etymology
Phonology MorphologyConcept by Pete Bowers: “The Analogy of Triangulation”; Dennis Wimer: “The Ologies of Language”
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English: A Polyglot
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“The truth is that if borrowing foreign words could
destroy a language, English would be dead (borrowed
from Old Norse), deceased (from French), defunct (from
Latin) and kaput (from German). When it comes to
borrowing, English excels (from Latin), surpasses (from
French) and eclipses (from Greek) any other tongue, past
or present.”
Claiborne, R. (1983). Our marvelous native tongue: The
life and times of the English language. New York: Times
Books (p. 4)
Layers of Language
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GREEK
ROMANCE from LATIN
ANGLO-SAXON
Specialized words,
used mostly in science,
though some, like
photograph, are common
Technical, sophisticated words used
primarily in more formal settings such
as literature and textbooks
Common, short, everyday, down-to-earth words used frequently
in ordinary situations and found in school primers
M. Henry, 1987; After Calfee & Associates, Stanford University
M. Henry, 2021
Anglo-
Saxon
Latin
Greek
Letter-SoundCorrespondences
SyllablePatterns
MorphemePatterns
Anglo-Saxon
Latin
Greek
Framework for Decoding/SpellingCurriculum and Instruction
M. Henry, 1987, 2003
What is a Morpheme?
M. Henry, 2021
The smallest meaningful linguistic unit in a word.
Bases, roots, prefixes and suffixes are all morphemes.
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Morphemes Can be Free or Bound
A free morpheme is a base or root that canstand alone as a word, such as spell, script,and graph.
A bound morpheme is a base or root or affixthat cannot stand alone, such as re-, struct and-ure in restructure.
CompoundWords
PhonemicAwareness
ABC’s
Sounds
Anglo-Saxon
Consonants-Vowels
Prefixes/Suffixes
SyllablePatterns
Latin Roots& Review
Greek Roots
Gr. K 1 2 3 4 5 --- HS
The Decoding/Spelling Continuum
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M. Henry, 2021
Remember that the primary function of English spelling
is to represent meaning.
Investigate these questions when stuck on a spelling:
1. What does the word mean?
2. How is it built?
3. What other related words can you think of?
4. What are the sounds that matter?
From: www.wordworkskingston.com
The Spelling/Meaning Connection
Anglo-Saxon Morphemes
Compound 2 base words:
railroad baseball flashlight lamppost
bookmark fireplace cowboy bluebird
starfish shoebox skyline homework
backpack butterfly birdhouse schoolroom
Affix to base word:
help helper unhelpful helpfully
play playing replay replayed
read reading reread misread
spell respell misspell misspelledM. Henry, 2021
Count the morphemes in these words:
dogs dog + s (2)
railroad rail + road (2)
respelled re + spell + ed (3)
misunderstanding mis + under + stand + ing (4)
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Common Prefixes
• in- (in or not) inborn, inland, inbred, into
• un- (not) unlike, untimed, undo, untie
• mis- (bad, wrong) misgive, misfire, misname
• dis- (not) disarm, disgrace, dislike, distrust
• fore- (before) forearm, foreword, forepaw
• re- (back, again) recall, return, restain
• de- (down, away from) decode, defog, delight
• pre- (before) preheat, preview, pretest
• a- (on, in; to) away, alone, along, aloudM. Henry, 2021
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF. 2.3d; 3.3a
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The Schwa
(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)
Anglo-Saxon: (Suffixes will be schwaed, prefixes may be)
a + sleep əsleep old + en oldən
green + est greenəst care + less careləss
church + es churchəs good + ness goodnəss
Common Anglo-Saxon Suffixes
• -ing, -er, -edheating heater heated
• -s, -escats churches
• -ly, -less, -ness, -fulgladly hopeless badnesspainful
• - en, -estolden widen oldest biggest
• -ysilky muddy crabby funny
M. Henry, 2021CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3f; 2.3d; 3.3a
Inflectional vs Derivational Morphemes
Inflectional morpheme – A bound morpheme that combines
with base words to indicate tense, number, mood, person, or
gender (peaches, walking, walked, walks, big, bigger)
Derivational morpheme – A bound morpheme added to bases
or roots to form new words, that may or may not change
the grammatical category of a word (turn/return, dental/dentist/
hope/hopeful/hopeless)
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Suffix Addition Rules
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Once suffixes are taught, students need to learn:
• When to drop final e when adding a suffix
• When to double the final consonant when adding a suffix
• When to change final y to i when adding a suffix
M. Henry, 2021Courtesy of Fiona Sheridan and Linda Brubaker, Beijing International School.
www.wordworkskingston.com
M. Henry, 2021
Matrix showing the addition ofPrefixes and suffixes to the Anglo-Saxon base friend. Courtesy of
Web on “word”
word
words
worded
wording
wordless
Wordlessly
wordlessness
wordage
reword
reworded
rewording
wordsmith
wordplay
wordbook
wordwork
foreword
byword
catchword
password
watchword
wordy
wordily
wordiness
forearm
forehead
forecast
foresee
forefathers
foreshadow
foresight
foretell
forethought
M. Henry, 2003, 2010; Adapted from M.Ramsden www.realspelling.frM. Henry, 2021
Latin & Greek Morphemes Act Differently
You’ll recall that Anglo-Saxon bases can be compounded or affixed as a means of word expansion.
Latin roots are generally affixed. Ex. extracted, instructor, ambidextrous, reflective
Greek roots are generally combined/compounded.These roots are often called combining forms.Ex. photograph, phonology, kilometer, hydrosphere
M. Henry, 2021
The Schwa
(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)
Latin:
dis + rupt + ed disruptəd
de+ rect + ion dərectiən
at + tract + ive əttractəve
M. Henry, 2021
Prefixes and Their Meaning
a- (on or in; to; or without or not)
ab- (from or away)
ad- (to, toward, in, or near)
Variants: ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-
ambi- (both)
ante- (before)
anti- (against)
be- (completely, thoroughly, used as an intensive)
bene- (well or good)
circum- (around or about)
con- (together, with, joint, or jointly)
Variants: co-, col, com-, cor-)
contra- (against, opposite, contrasting)
counter- (contrary, opposite)M. Henry, 2021
More Prefixes and Their Meaning
de- (down or away from)
dis- (not, absence of, or apart Variant: dif-
dys- (bad or difficult)
ex- (out) Variant: e-
fore- (before)
in- (in, on, or toward) Variants: il-, im-, ir-
in- (not) Variants: il-, im-, ir-
inter- (between)
intra- (within)
intro- (in or inward)
mal- (bad or badly; abnormal)
mid- (middle)
mis- (bad or badly; wrong or wrongly)
multi- (many or much)M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
More Prefixes and Their Meaning
non- (not or negative)ob- (down against, or facing; toper- (through or completely; also used as an intensivepost- (after, behind, or following)pre- (before or earlier)pro- (forward, earlier, or prior to)re- (back or again; also used as an intensive)se- (apart or aside, without)sub- (under, beneath, or below; secondary)syn- (together or with; from Greek)trans- (across or beyond)un- (to undo or reverse)un- (not or opposite)
Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)
in (in, not) invite, insist, increase, invest
il + l illegal, illegible, illustrate, illiterate
ir + r irregular, irritate, irrigate, irrode
im + m immune, immortal, immoral
+ b imbibe, imbalance, imbecile
+ p impart, import, impress, improveM. Henry, 2021
Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)
con (together, with) connect, convene, convince
col + l collect, collide, collusion, collate
cor + r correct, corrupt, corrode, correspond
com + m commit, commute, commune, comment
+ b combine, combust, combat, combatant
+ p compare, compute, compact, complaintM. Henry, 2021
Chameleon Prefixes(Assimilated Prefixes)
sub (under, from below) subway, submarine
suc + c success, succeed, succulent
suf + f suffer, suffuse, sufficient
sug + g suggest, suggestive
sup + p support, suppose, suppress
ad (to, toward) address, adjust, admit
ac account, access af afford, affection
ag aggressive, aggrevate al allow, alleviate
ap appear, appoint ar arrest, arrive
as assert, assort, assist at attend, attract, attest
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The following common suffixes are arranged in a suggested order of presentation based on the frequency of use of the suffixes & their adjacent roots.
1 2 3 4
er ion (tion, sion) ar ism
ed most ible, ibility tude
ing ous, ious (cious, tious) ize ory
s, es ish ery eer
en or ary ine
est ess ate ite
less ure (ture) ward cide
ness dom age ette
ful ent, ence al (cial, tial) cy
ly an ic ile
fold ant, ance ity ade
ship ist ee ium
hood ive fy, ify ian
able, ability most ty, ity ese
fore some ize
y ment ling
Suffixes
Suffixes and Their Meaning
-able/-ability (Adj., able, can do) Variant: -ible/-iblity
-ade (N., result of an action)
-age (N., collection, mass)
-al/-ial (Adj., relating to or characterized by) [cial, tial]
-an (Adj. or N., relating to) Variant: -ian
-ant/-ance (Adj. or N. action or state)
-ar (Adj.)
-ard (N., one habitually in a specified condition)
-ary (Adj. or N., relating to, place where)
-ate (Adj. or Vb., cause or make)
-cide (N., kill)
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More Suffixes and Their Meaning
-cy (N., state, condition, or quality) Variants: -acy
-dom (N., quality, realm, office, or state)
-ed (Vb. Past participle)
-ee (N., one who receives the action)
-eer (N., one associated with)
-en (Vb. or N., made of or to make)
-ent/ence (N., action, state, or quality)
-er (Adj. [comparative degree] or N., one who, that which)
-ery (N., relating to, quality, or place where)
-ese (Adj. or N., related to)
-ess (N. [feminine])
-est (Adj. [superlative degree]
-ette (N., small or diminutiveM. Henry, 2021
More Suffixes and Their Meaning
-fold (N., related to a specified number or quantity)
-ful (Adj., full of or full)
-fy/ify (Vb., make)
-hood (N., condition, state, or quantity)
-ian (N., one having a certain skill or art - [cian]
-ic (Adj., of, pertaining to, or characterized by)
-ile (Adj. or N., relating to, suited for, or capable of)
-ine (Adj. or N., nature of)
-ing (Adj. or N., action, process, or art)
-ion (N., act of, state of, or result of – [tion, sion]
-ish (Adj., origin, nature, or resembling)
-ism (N., doctrine, system, manner, condition, act, characteristic)
-ist (N., one who)
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-ite (N., nature of, quality of, or mineral product)
-ium (N., chemical element or group)
-ive (Adj., causing or making)
-ize (Vb., make)
-less (Adj., without)
-ling (N., very small, diminutive)
-ly (Adv., like or manner of)
-ment (N., act of, state of, or result of an action)
-most (Adj., most or nearest to)
-ness (N., state of)
-or (N., one who, that which)
-ory (Adj. or N., relatint to, quality, or place where)
More Suffixes and Their Meaning
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More Suffixes and Their Meaning
-ous (Adj., full of or having) [-cious, -ious, -tious]
-s (N. pl.) Variant: -es
-ship (N., office, stat e, dignity, skill, quality or profession
-some (Adj., characterized by a specified quality, condition, action)
-ster (N., one who is associated with, participates in, makes)
-tude (N., condition, state, or quality of)
-ty/ity (N., state or quality of)
-ure (N., state of, process, function, or office) [-ture]
-ward (Adj., expressing direction)
-y (Adj., inclined to)
For word lists fitting each prefix, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix E
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When do we use these suffixes?:-er, -or, -ar:
Use –er with Anglo-Saxon bases for nouns & adjectives
skater waiter loser winner farmer
finer bigger older redder smaller
Use –or with Latin roots for nouns
conductor inspector inventor instructor
Use –ar with Latin roots for adjectives
popular singular stellar spectacular
(Some common nouns end in ar (beggar, molar, hangar
sugar, liar, pillar, dollar, cigar. Note the ar is not
always a suffix.)
M. Henry, 2021
When do we use these suffixes?:-ous, –ess:
Use –ous for adjectives
famous dangerous nervous jealous
joyous adventurous
rigorous tremendous glorious
amorous devious pompous
Use –ess for feminine nouns
actress waitress hostess princess
lioness tigress sculptress governess
duchess
baroness empress heiress M. Henry, 2021
When do we use these suffixes?:
-est, -ist:
Use –est for superlative degree of adjectives
highest lowest biggest smallest
oldest fastest hottest happiest
Use –ist for noun people
dentist cyclist jurist scientist
tourist violinist pianist cartoonist
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The Schwa(The neutral vowel in unaccented syllables in English words)
Latin:
dis + rupt’ + əd disrupted
də + rect’ + ən direction
ət + tract’ + əve attractive
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Why Do We Need to Learn
Latin & Greek Morphemes?
Consider Our Literature and
Content Area Textbooks
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Call of the Wild by Jack London (pp. 52 & 53)
malingerer suffering jarring
terribly tiredness excessive
recovery prolonged drainage
successively relatively arrived
recuperation apparently vigorously
fiercely encouraged confidently
deserved interval proportions
official worthless drooping
addressed reserve lightish-coloredM. Henry, 2021
Social Studies Text, Grades 4-6
• discovery, explorer, navigation, exploration, celebration, exchange, governor, pilgrimage, colonist, constitution, declaration, independence, indentured, opression, proclamation, representation, revolution, taxation, secession, abolitionist, assassination, autonomy, reconstruction, expansion, anthropology, hemisphere, interdependence, immigration, presidential, proletariat, democracy, emigration, hierarchy, dictatorship, centennial, legislative, judicial, bicentennial, argumentative
Henry, 2010M. Henry, 2021
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Latin Influence
So great, in fact, was the penetration of
Latin affixing during the Renaissance that it
quite undid the Anglo-Saxon habit of
compounding as the leading means of word
formation in English.
From: A Structural History of English (Nist, 1966, p. 11)
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Latin Word Roots: Order of Presentation
form port rupt tract
scribe/script spec/spect stru/struct dic/dict
flect/flex mit/miss fer cred
duc/duce/duct pel/puls vert/vers pend/pens
fac/fact/fect/fic jac/jec/ject tend/tens/tent cur/curs
ped/pod vis/vid aud leg
viv/vivi/vit/vita greg capit/capt spir/spire
cap/cep/cept/cip grad/gress/gred voc/voke leg/lect
lit/liter/litera cede/ceed/cess ten/tain/tin
feder/fid/fide/feal sta/stit/sist/stet cad/cas/cid pon/pose
cern/cert mob/mot/mov gen/genus cise/cide
M. Henry, 2021
Latin Roots & Their Meaningform – to shape port – to carry
rupt – to break or burst tract – to draw or pull
scrib, script – to write* spec, spect, spic – to see, watch*
stru, struct – to build flect, flex - to bend or curve
dic, dict – to say, tell fer – to bear or yield*
mit, miss – to send* duc, duce, duct – to lead*
cred – to believe vers, vert – to turn
pel, puls – to drive or push fac, fact, fect, fic – to make or do*
pend, pens – to hang or weigh tend, tens, tent – to stretch or strain*
jac, jec, ject – to throw or lie ped – foot
cur, curs – to run or go aud – to hear or listen
vid, vis – to see leg - law
Brown, 1947, suggested that 12 Latin roots by asterisks, along with the Greek
forms graph and ology, provide clues to the meanings of more than 100,000 words.
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More Latin Roots and Their Meaningvit, vita, viv, vivi – to live capit, capt – head or chief
greg – group, crowd, flock cap, ceit, ceive, cep, cept, cip –
to take, catch, seize, hold*
spir, spire – to breathe voc, vok, voke – to call
grad, gred, gress – step, degree lit, liter, litera – letters
lect, leg, lig – to choose, pick,
read or speak ten, tain, tin, tinu – to hold*
sist, sta, stat, stit – to stand cede, ceed, cess – to go, yield
surrender
pon, pose, pound – to put, feder, fid, fide, feal – trust, faith
place, or set* mob, mot, mov – to move
cad, cas, cid – to fall, befall cide – to kill
cern – to separate, cert – plic, ply – to fold*
to decide cise – to cut
cogn – to know
For less common roots, see Unlocking Literacy, p. 147
For lists of words fitting each root, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix FM. Henry, 2021
Ask students to:
Discuss word pairs (e.g., compare the behavior of an extrovert and an
introvert; how do intrastate and interstate highways differ?
Match prefixes with their meanings.
Match suffixes with their parts of speech.
Match Latin or Greek bases with their meaning or meaning with the Latin
and Greek bases.
Find the morphemes in a list of words; are they bound or free
morphemes?
Follow-up and Reinforcement
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M. Henry, 2021
Look for Old-English, Latin or Greek based words in a content area text book.
Build a web on a target base.
Make a word sum for a target word.
Develop a matrix for an Old English, Latin or Greek base.
Identify the language of origin in a word.
Generate as many words as possible for a target base. Add words by checking Word Searcher.
Sort a list of words into those that share a twin base. (Ex. stru/struct; vert/vers)
Find the etymology of an unknown word by going to Etymonline.com
Follow-up and Reinforcement
Activities Related to Latin Morphemes• Circle the Latin word roots in the following words:
nondescript transference convertibleconference attractive adversary
• Matching: Match the Latin root with the letter of the correct meaning:
_____ rupt A. to say or tell_____ spect B. to breathe_____ dict C. to break or burst_____ flect D. to pull_____ spire E. to bend_____ tract F. to see
• Write the Latin root that means:to pull _____________ to build ___________to write _____________ to bend ___________to see _____________ to break ___________to hear _____________ to run __________
©M. HenryM. Henry, 2021
Activities for Latin Morphemes - 2• Fill in the blanks with the best word from the following choices:
interrupted information formality report
convertible spectators supported formula
1. My _________ card had mostly A’s.
2. My sister __________ our telephone chatter.
3. The building was ____________ by heavy beams.
4. Give me new _____________ on the research.
5. I have a new yellow _______________.
• Circle a word with a Latin root to replace the underlined word(s).My teacher helped the principal at lunchtime.
informer instructor reporterTurn in your research paper tomorrow.
manuscript prescription protractor• Discussion on word pairs: Compare the behavior of an extrovert and an introvert. How do intrastate and interstate highways differ?
© M. HenryM. Henry, 2021
struct
to build
con
in
construct
constructs
constructing
constructed
constructions
constructive
constructively
instruct
instructs
instructed
instructing
instruction
instructional
instructor
instructive
instructively
de
destructive
destructively
destruction
destructible
destructibility
destruct
obobstruct
obstructs
obstructing
obstructed
obstruction
obstructive
structure
structures
structured
structuring
structural
restructure
restructured
substructure
superstructure
infrastructure
reconstructionists
Web on “struct”
M. Henry, 2021
Courtesy Pete Bowers: www.wordworkskingston.com
Thanks also to Michel Rameau: www.realspelling.frM. Henry, 2021
rupt“to break or burst”
rupturerupturedrupturesrupturing
corruptcorruptscorruptedcorruptlycorruptingcorruptiblecorruptivecorruptivenesscorruptivelycorruptivitycorruption
incorruptibleincorruptibility
bankruptbankruptcybankruptcies
interruptinterruptsinterruptinginterruptedinterruptioninterruptions
uninterrupteduninterruptedly
erupteruptseruptederuptingeruptioneruptions
disruptdisruptsdisruptingdisrupteddisruptiondisruptivedisruptivelydisruptiveness
abruptabruptlyabruptness
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Find the Morphemes in These Words
Word Prefix(es) Root Suffix(es)
reflection _______ _______ _______
disrupted _______ _______ _______
literature _______ _______ _______
collective _______ _______ _______
subtracting _______ _______ _______
prescriptions _______ _______ _______
reconstructionist _______ _______ _______
pendant _______ _______ _______
submission _______ _______ _______
inspector _______ _______ _______M. Hen ry, 2021
Importance of Latin Roots for Spanish Speakers; Cognates
English Spanish
transportation transportaciĂłndepartment departamento
novelist novelistaidealism idealismoexperience experienciavariety variedadInflexibility inflexibilidad
M. Henry, 2021
Latin & Greek Morphemes Act Differently
You’ll recall that Anglo-Saxon base words are
compounded or affixed as a means of word
expansion.
Latin roots are usually affixed.
Ex. extracted, instructor, ambidextrous, reflective
Greek roots are usually combined/compounded.
These roots are often called combining forms.
Ex. photograph, phonology, kilometer, hydrosphere
M. Henry, 2021
Greek Influence
Suppose you could examine a green part of a plant
under the microscope. What would you see?
Here are some cells from the green part of a plant.
The cells have small green bodies shaped like
footballs. They give the plant its green color. They
are called chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts are very important to a plant. As you
know, plants make their own food. This food-
making process is called photosynthesis. It is in
these chloroplasts that photosynthesis takes place.
M. Henry, 2021
Greek Combining FormsOrder of Presentation
phon/phono photo graph/gram auto
tele ology micro meter
therm bio scope hydro
biblio crat/cracy geo metro
polis dem derm cycl
hypo hyper chron chrom
phys psych techni lex
path peri hemi/semi/demi
poly mon/mono gon sphere
cogn meta mega arch
mech kine/cine phil soph
the/theo andr/anthr phobia mania
ast(astro) archae/arche
Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2002). Patterns for success in reading and spelling. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.Henry, M.K. (2003). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding & spelling instruction. Baltimore: Brookes’ Pub.
M. Henry, 2021
Words from Math Texts, Gr. 4-6
• addend, addition, calculation, calculator, decimal, denominator, dividend, division, multiplication, numerator, reciprocal, percentage, subtraction, geometry, nonagonal, protractor, hemisphere, circumference, congruent, diagonal, diameter, dimension, heptagon, hexagon, horizontal, intersection, isosceles, octagon, octagonal, opposite, parallelogram, pentagonal, pentomino, perimeter, polygon, rectangular, symmetry, trapezoid, millimeter, centimeter, triangle, decimeter, kilometer, milliliter, kilogram
Henry, 2003M. Henry, 2021
Science Content Words, Gr. 4-6
• brontosaurus, Cenozoic, dinosaurs, extinction, stegosaurus, trilobite, astronomy, atmosphere, environment, igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, telescope, chlorophyll, amphibious, deciduous, microorganism, photosynthesis, zoology, spontaneous, aluminum, thermometer, ultraviolet, transparent, galvanometer, electromagnet, microwave, technology, physiology
M. Henry, 2021
Greek Combining Forms (Roots)and Their Meaning
phon, phono – sound photo – light
gram, graph – written or drawn* meter, metr – measure
tele – distant bio – life
logy – study; from logos, logue - speech or word*
micro – small or minute hydr, hydra, hydro – water
therm, thermo – heat or hot cracy, crat – rule
scope – to watch or see auto - self
biblio – book demo – people
geo – earth hypo – under
pol, polis, polit –city; method of cycl, cyclo – wheel or circle;
government circular
derm – skin techn – skill, art, or craft
chron, chrono – time psych – mind or soul
hyper – over, above, excessive gno, gnosi - know
M. Henry, 2021
More Greek Combining Forms (Roots)and Their Meaning
gon – angle sphere – sphere, circle
metro – mother city; measure phys – nature
mech – machine path – feeling, suffering, disease
arch – ruler, chief lex – word
phil, phila,, phile, philo – love mega – large or great
meta – beside soph – wisdom, cleverness
kine, cine – movement phobia – irrational fear or hatred
the, theo – god mania – madness, frenzy,
abnormal desire, or obsession
andr, anthr – man ast, astro – star
poly – many mon, mono - one
For less common Gk forms, see Unlocking Literacy, p. 149
For lists of words fitting each root, see Unlocking Literacy, Appendix G
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M. Henry, 2021
Kaleidoscope
Greek: kalos - beautiful+ eidos - form
+ scope - to see
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Activities Related to Greek Combining Forms
• Nym and onym are the Greek roots meaning name. Find as many words as possible ending in onym. Give examples of pseudonyms, antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms.
• Select unfamiliar words & ask questions related to word origin, clues, meaning, definition, etc.
Ex. Analyze the word pterodactyl. What is its origin? What are the two combining forms? What is the meaning of ptero and dactyl? In what subject areas might you find this word?
• Make a web for a Greek combining form such as phon/phono.
• Give students a sentence with an unknown word such as “Heterographs abound in the English language”. Students study word using a dictionary & thesaurus to find its origin, meaning, and synonyms. Have them look for additional examples (inquiry/enquiry; catalog/catalogue).
© M. Henry, 2010, 2005M. Henry, 2021
Greek Word Activities - 2
• Matching: Match the letter of the correct meaning with the GreekCombining form:_______ micro A. sound_______ ology B. life_______ auto C. watch or see_______ graph, gram D. self_______ therm E. distant_______ tele F. small_______ bio G. study_______ phon, phono H. water_______ scope I. heat_______ hydro J. written or drawn
• Have students categorize words in a textbook chapter accordingto origin. Prehistoric Times
Anglo-Saxon Latin Greekearthquake ancestors tectonicsembedded evolution anthropologisthunter extinct geologistspearhead aggregate archaeologyimprint volcano pterodactyl
Henry, M.K. (2003). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding & Spelling Instruction. Baltimore: Brookes’ Pub.Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2002). Patterns for success in reading and spelling. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.M. Henry, 2021
Count the morphemes in these words:
autobiography auto + bio + graph + y (4)
bibliophile biblio + phile (2)
photosynthesis photo + syn + thesis (3)
M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
Courtesy of AnnWhiting, Australianteacher extraordinaire
Identify the Language of Origin
philharmonic ___ psychology___
extraction ___ hopelessness ___
introspective ___ laughing ___
bookish ___ manufactured ___
expeditious ___ hydrophobia ___
auditor ___ astrophysics ___M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
Dr. Larabee: Where do you think big words come from?
Akeelah: People with big brains?
Dr. L: So where do big words come from? From littlewords… Greek ones, Latin ones, French ones.
“You’ll win by using my methods, by first understandingthe power of language, then by deconstructing it!Breaking it down, to its origin…to its roots. You willconsume it, you will own it!
M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
M. Henry, 2021
WebsitesA. Word. A. Day Home Page, www.wordsmith.org/awad/index.html
Explore English Words by Focusing on Words, www.wordexplorations.com
Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com
Real Spelling, www.realspelling.fr
Vocabulogic, http://vocablog-plc.blogspot.com
Word Root Quick Reference, www.espindle.org/roots.html
Word Searcher, www.neilramsden.co.uk/spelling
The WordsWorth Compendium, www.dictionary-thesaurus.com
WordWorks, www.wordworkskingston.com
M. Henry, 2021
Reference & Activity Books for Morpheme Instruction
• Bebko, A.R., Alexander, J., & Doucet, R. (n.d.). LANGUAGE!: Roots(2nd ed.). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Ebbers, S.M. (2004). Vocabulary through morphemes. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Glaser, D. (2020). Morpheme magic. www.morphememagic.com. • Henry, M.K. (2010). Unlocking literacy: Effective decoding and
spelling instruction. (2nd ed). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.• Henry, M.K. (2010). WORDS: Integrated decoding and spelling
instruction based on word origin and word structure (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
• Henry, M.K., & Redding, N.C. (2021). Patterns for success in reading and spelling (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
• Marcellaro, E.G., & Ostrovsky, G.R. (1988). Verbal vibes series. Sacramento, CA: Lumen Publications.
• Morgan, K. (2002). Dynamic roots. Albuquerque, NM: Morgan Dynamic Phonics.
• Reid, G., & Clark, J. (In press). Dyslexia tools: Workbook for teens.Emeryville, CA: Rockridge Press.M. Henry, 2021
Contact Information
Marcia Henry, PhD
1900 Ballington Blvd NW, #203
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 535-2107
M. Henry, 2021