Knowledge and Skills Statement
Have students use index cards with root words and suffixes written on them. Task students with pairing together new words. The words can be taped together, and any "extra" letters in the root word can be covered up and eliminated or new letters can be written (i.e., changing y to i). Then ask students to read the words aloud. Observe and document whether students accurately decode the words once suffixes have been added.
Further Explanation
This assessment requires students to understand how the use of a suffix changes the meaning and pronunciation of a base word, including how suffixes can change base words such as dropping e, changing y to i, and doubling final consonants. Students should have phonetic knowledge of and experience examining word parts (base word + suffix) in order to correctly decode words with suffixes. This knowledge is acquired through practice and experience reading words with a variety of suffixes. Word work can occur in all modalities to support all learning styles.
Research
1. Kieffer, M. J., & Lesaux, N. K. (2007). Breaking down words to build meaning: morphology, vocabulary, and reading comprehension in the urban classroom: when it comes to teaching vocabulary, a little knowledge (of root words, prefixes, and suffixes) goes a long way. The Reading Teacher, 61(2), 134+. Retrieved from https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A169960879/PROF?u=tea&sid=PROF&xid=1af4396d
Summary: The authors describe the challenges faced by students who have limited academic vocabulary. These students struggle with comprehension as texts increase in complexity. When teachers combine explicit instruction with decoding strategies, students will increase vocabulary skills. The authors break down the meaning of morphology and apply it to instruction.
2. Yurtbasi, M. (2015) Building English Vocabulary through Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes. Online Submission, Global Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 5(1), 44–51. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Nature+and+function+of+proposals+in+collaborative+writing&pr=on&ft=on&id=ED579889
Summary: Researchers consider that a strong vocabulary contributes to learner success, and consider this specifically for English learners. They focus on building a strong vocabulary through teaching specific Latin roots and their English derivatives, prefixes, and suffixes.