Root Word andRoot Word andAffix InstructionAffix Instruction

Lessons to Improve Lessons to Improve

Vocabulary Development Vocabulary Development

DefinitionsDefinitions(Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary)(Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary)

ROOT WORD: ROOT WORD: a word or part of a word from which a word or part of a word from which

other words are formedother words are formed

AFFIX: AFFIX: a letter or group of letters attached a letter or group of letters attached

to the beginning or end of a word to the beginning or end of a word that serves to produce a derivative that serves to produce a derivative word or an inflectional formword or an inflectional form

AFFIXESAFFIXES

PREFIX – PREFIX –

Appears before the rootAppears before the root

SUFFIX – SUFFIX –

Appears after the rootAppears after the root

Greek and Latin Roots and Greek and Latin Roots and AffixesAffixes

English is a hodge-podge of English is a hodge-podge of

many languages, but is many languages, but is primarily comprised of Greek primarily comprised of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixessuffixes

If you teach students roots and affixes (rather than a set list of ten vocabulary words) each week, they will be able to unlock the meaning of many more words

Teaching Roots and Affixes is Teaching Roots and Affixes is a great interdisciplinary a great interdisciplinary opportunity for Math, Science opportunity for Math, Science and Language Arts and Language Arts

It is also a helpful strategy to It is also a helpful strategy to ESL studentsESL students

CSSDCSSDAn Approach to Vocabulary-An Approach to Vocabulary-

BuildingBuilding CContextontext

SSoundound

SStructuretructure

DDictionaryictionary

First, First, looklook at the words at the words surrounding the unknown surrounding the unknown wordword

Sound out the unknown Sound out the unknown wordword

Identify affixes and Identify affixes and roots of the unknown roots of the unknown wordword

Lastly, use a dictionary Lastly, use a dictionary if the other methods failif the other methods fail

ResourcesResources

Download the following documents for Download the following documents for lists of root words and affixes:lists of root words and affixes: ““Vocabulary1” Vocabulary1” ““Vocabulary2” Vocabulary2” ““Vocabulary3” Vocabulary3”

Additional lists can be found in the Additional lists can be found in the appendices of appendices of When Kids Can’t Read: When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can DoWhat Teachers Can Do,, by Kylene Beers by Kylene Beers

Some Website Some Website ResourcesResources

Greek and Latin Root WordsGreek and Latin Root Words

http://www.awrsd.org/oak/Library/http://www.awrsd.org/oak/Library/greek_and_latin_root_words.htm greek_and_latin_root_words.htm

Funbrain.comFunbrain.com

http://www.funbrain.com/roots/index.htmlhttp://www.funbrain.com/roots/index.html The Phonics ConnectionThe Phonics Connection

http://www.manateemiddle.org/phonics/http://www.manateemiddle.org/phonics/newpage12.htmnewpage12.htm

The Vocabulary WorkshopThe Vocabulary Workshop

http://www.southampton.liunet.edu/academic/http://www.southampton.liunet.edu/academic/pau/course/webesl.htmpau/course/webesl.htm

Final Product for LessonFinal Product for Lesson

Submit the lesson plan that Submit the lesson plan that incorporates root word/affix incorporates root word/affix instructioninstruction

Also, submit a professional reflection Also, submit a professional reflection (what went well, what could be (what went well, what could be improved, etc...), and a sample of improved, etc...), and a sample of student work student work (Download “Teacher Reflection” document)