Root Word and Affix Instruction Lessons to Improve Vocabulary Development

Definitions (Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary) ROOT WORD: ROOT WORD: a word or part of a word from which other words are formed a word or part of a word from which other words are formed AFFIX: AFFIX: a letter or group of letters attached to the beginning or end of a word that serves to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form a letter or group of letters attached to the beginning or end of a word that serves to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form

AFFIXES PREFIX – PREFIX – Appears before the root Appears before the root SUFFIX – SUFFIX – Appears after the root Appears after the root

Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes English is a hodge-podge of many languages, but is primarily comprised of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes English is a hodge-podge of many languages, but is primarily comprised of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes

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 a great interdisciplinary opportunity for Math, Science and Language Arts Teaching Roots and Affixes is a great interdisciplinary opportunity for Math, Science and Language Arts It is also a helpful strategy to ESL students It is also a helpful strategy to ESL students

CSSD An Approach to Vocabulary-Building Context Context Sound Sound Structure Structure Dictionary Dictionary First, look at the words surrounding the unknown word Sound out the unknown word Identify affixes and roots of the unknown word Lastly, use a dictionary if the other methods fail

Resources Download the following documents for lists of root words and affixes: Download the following documents for lists of root words and affixes: “Vocabulary1” “Vocabulary1” “Vocabulary2” “Vocabulary2” “Vocabulary3” “Vocabulary3” Additional lists can be found in the appendices of When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can Do, by Kylene Beers Additional lists can be found in the appendices of When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can Do, by Kylene Beers

Some Website Resources Greek and Latin Root Words Greek and Latin Root Words words.htm Funbrain.com Funbrain.comhttp:// The Phonics Connection The Phonics Connectionhttp:// The Vocabulary Workshop The Vocabulary Workshop /webesl.htm

Final Product for Lesson Submit the lesson plan that incorporates root word/affix instruction Submit the lesson plan that incorporates root word/affix instruction Also, submit a professional reflection (what went well, what could be improved, etc...), and a sample of student work Also, submit a professional reflection (what went well, what could be improved, etc...), and a sample of student work (Download “Teacher Reflection” document)