Transcription of UsingPrefixes,Suffixesand& …
1 Using Prefixes, Suffixes and root Words to Improve College Level Vocabulary Steven Reid 6/15/2013 1 Table of Contents Word Prefixes Card Prefix, Suffix, and root Appendix A Word Appendix B Card Appendix C Suffix Appendix E Prefix, Suffix, and root Appendix F Appendix G root Appendix H 2 Introduction Often students approach vocabulary acquisition as a Just Memorize It type of exercise.
2 Some student painstakingly waste time dragging out a dictionary when the word could easily be broken apart to discern its meaning, if only the student knew what the individual pieces of the word meant. In this unit, I will show students how to dissect words by exploring the meanings of the prefixes, suffixes and roots that were used to create the word. By taking their knowledge of the pieces, they will be able to gain the understanding of more complicated, college- level vocabulary simply by breaking it apart.
3 3 Overview One of the best methods for teaching the word construction method of vocabulary is through the use of analogies. By using words the students already know, they will be able to build on that knowledge to learn new words. With that in mind, the first part of the lesson will involve Word Circles. These are used to take the new affix or root and pair it with words already in the students vocabulary. The Word Circles can be used in discussion each time new affixes or roots are taught.
4 Prefixes are explored through the use of a Card Sort activity where the students will be asked to look at a set of prefixes and roots and then match them together. The suffix lesson uses matching to begin the process of suffix understanding and expands to look at acquiring meaning based on the root and the suffix combination. Finally, all three pieces are used to define new vocabulary. These lessons may be expanded by following up with passages taken from literature to allow students to discover more vocabulary that can be dissected using their newfound skills with prefixes, suffixes and roots.
5 Articles from journals, cuttings from novels, stories from newspapers or magazines could all be possible sources for additional work in this area. 4 Word Circle Objective: To help students see the connection between the affix or root when used in a word they are familiar with and how it could be used to help define new vocabulary. Materials: Copies of: From Appendix A: Word Circle (completed copy with root word man ) handout Large Word Circle handout Small Word Circle handout From Appendices F, G, and H: Copies of Prefix List, root List, Suffix List Directions: 1.
6 Discuss with students how to fill out the chart: a. Start with the affix or root to be learned, place it in the center. b. Define the affix or root . c. Fill in as many words as possible using the affix or root . d. Complete the Circle by using a dictionary or the internet to find more words that use that affix or root . 2. Using the completed copy, discuss how each of the words in the Circle are related to the definition of the root man hand.
7 A. Manuscript a handwritten copy b. Manacles handcuffs c. Manipulate to move it by hand, etc. 3. Choose another affix or root and, using the large Word Circle, have the class as a whole complete the circle. Students can call out words that use that affix or root and then how it is related to the definition. 4. Next, you may want to provide you students with a few copies of the pages with 4 small circles on it. They can use these for their personal exploration, or you may want to assign them 4 (or more) affixes or roots and have them complete the Word Circles for each.
8 5 Prefixes Card Sort Objective: To help students see the connection between a prefix and a word. This will help students see which prefix can be attached to which word, and how it affects the meaning. Materials: Copies of the Card Match pages (one set for each student/group) from Appendix B. It will probably be best to copy these on card stock. This will allow for the cards to stand up to the wear- and- tear they will experience during multiple uses.
9 Copies of Prefix List and root List (from Appendices F and G). Directions: 1. Have students working either alone or in small groups match the prefixes to words on the appropriate card. Students may discover that some prefixes can be attached to more than one card, or that a word may work with multiple prefixes. 2. Have students write down all of the new words they have created and the definition of the new words.
10 3. You may also have them group: a. All the words that match a particular prefix, b. All the prefixes that match a particular work, and/or c. All prefixes that have similar meaning. 6 Suffixes Objective: To allow students to become more familiar with suffix usage, function, and meaning. Materials: Copies of Suffix Worksheet (Appendix C) Copies of Suffix List (Appendix H) Copies of root List (Appendix G) Directions: 1.
