In this 10-hour course, part of a multi-course series, I (Dr. Karen Wieland) teach middle-grades students to identify, understand, and apply knowledge of roughly 50 unchangeable prefixes as well as 7 Latin assimilated prefixes that are spelled multiple ways. 

Assimilated prefixes, also known as changeable, absorbed, or chameleon prefixes, are considered to be one of the most advanced aspects of the English spellings system. 

As students study prefixes, they will naturally be reviewing 100+ previously studied roots and suffixes. They will be encountering new roots, as well.

WHY STUDY LATIN AND GREEK ROOTS AND AFFIXES?

In my experience, the most common strategy students used by students who experience reading difficulties when they encounter an unfamiliar multisyllabic words is -- you guessed it -- “skip it.” 

Why don't they just sound those words out, you may wonder?

Well, when words are derived from other languages and contain less common orthographic patterns, phonics often fails as a decoding technique. And developing readers aren't sure how to work the words out, so they skip them and hope context will sufficiently disambiguate the author's intended meaning.

There is an alternative.  If students have knowledge of common root and affix patterns and their meanings, they can use this knowledge to generate approximations of their pronunciations and discern their meanings. Ultimately, using these morphemic strategies improves students' overall reading comprehension.

“Latin -- and classical Greek -- are as vital to beginning vocabulary instruction as phonics is to reading," explains Joequil Lundquist, the author of English from the Roots Up: Help for Reading, Writing, Spelling, and S.A.T. Scores (Literacy Unlimited, 1989). "Just as phonics helps children figure out what words are, Latin and Greek help them figure out what words mean. ” 

Unfortunately, not many elementary and middle-grades teachers are knowledgeable about Latin and Greek roots and affixes.  That's where this class comes in.

Students in this course will use a range a range of consistent pedagogical approaches, including brainstorming, online research of English words derived from Latin and Greek word elements, student share-backs of their independently curated word lists, rich discussion about the meanings and usages if interesting derived words, and periodic study games and crossword puzzles

Students are advised to complete the Vocabulary Building with Roots and Affixes Latin & Greek I and II courses with Dr. Karen Wieland before enrolling in this Prefixes class. 

WHO BENEFITS FROM STUDYING LATIN AND GREEK ROOTS AND AFFIXES?

- Students learning English as a second language
- Students who experience reading difficulties or other specific language learning differences
- Students who have a need to increase their listening, speaking, or reading vocabularies
- Word-curious students
- Teachers who work with any students fitting the above patterns

HOW, SPECIFICALLY, WILL YOUR CHILD BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE?

(1) Each Latin or Greek root or affix gives a student access to the core meanings of an exponentially greater number of words. Once your child learns 10 high-utility roots, s/he will be able to understand the core/basic meanings of 100+ high-level words. 

(2) Root and affix identification facilitates word recognition!

(3) Morphemic word analysis is a great alternative to the ineffective “skip it” strategy described earlier.

(4) The vocabulary emphasized in middle-grades and more advanced texts often contains high-frequency Latin and Greek roots and affixes. 

(5) Root and affix knowledge is one form of lexical (word) knowledge, and reading comprehension is heavily dependent upon lexical knowledge.

I hope you agree that the study of Latin and Greek roots and affixes will be fruitful for you child! I look forward to working with you to promote your child's vocabulary development and word-curiosity!

WEEKLY BREAKDOWN

Week 1 - Overview of the history of the English language and definition of key terms (morpheme, stem, root, base, prefix, suffix, affix). With teacher modeling and guided practice, learners co-construct lists of English words prefixed by several unchangeable Anglo-Saxon prefixes. Each learner picks an Anglo-Saxon word element to research for homework.

Week 2 - Unchangeable Anglo-Saxon prefixes, continued. Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking. Each learner picks an Anglo-Saxon word element for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits.

Week 3 - Unchangeable Anglo-Saxon prefixes, continued. Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking. Each learner picks an Anglo-Saxon word element for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits. QuizletLive study games are played to wrap up the unit.

Week 4 - Unchangeable Old French/Normal French prefixes. With teacher modeling and guided practice, learners  co-construct lists of English words prefixed by several Anglo-Saxon prefixes. Each learner picks a French word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits.

Week 5 - Unchangeable Old French/Normal French prefixes, continued. Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking. Each learner picks a French word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits. QuizletLive study games are played to wrap up the unit.

Week 6 - Unchangeable Latin prefixes. Learners co-construct lists of English words prefixed by several unchangeable Latin prefixes. Each learner picks a Latin word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits.

Week 7 - Unchangeable Latin prefixes, continued. Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking. Each learner picks a Latin word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits. QuizletLive study games are played to wrap up the unit.

Week 8 - Changeable/Absorbed/Assimilated Latin prefixes.  With teacher modeling and guided practice, learners  co-construct lists of English words prefixed by several unchangeable Latin prefixes. Each learner picks a Latin word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits.

Week 9 - Changeable/Absorbed/Assimilated Latin prefixes.  Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking.. Each learner picks a Latin word element to research for homework. Spelling bee practice provided as time permits.

Week 10 - Changeable/Absorbed/Assimilated Latin prefixes.  Learners share back the word lists they had cultivated for homework and everyone builds on each other's thinking. Each learner picks a Latin word element to research for homework. QuizletLive study games are played to wrap up the unit.