- English Language Arts and Reading
- Grade 5
- Developing and sustaining foundational language skills
decoding words using advanced knowledge of the influence of prefixes and suffixes on base words; and
Provide students with cards that have base words on the front and a new word with either a prefix or a suffix on the back. Have students read the base word first and then flip the card over and read the new word with the prefix or suffix applied.
This assessment requires students to have phonetic knowledge of and experience with examining word parts (prefix + base word / base word + suffix) in order to correctly decode words with affixes. This knowledge is acquired through practice and experience with reading words with a variety of prefixes and suffixes. As students read, observe and document whether they are able to accurately decode the words. Word work can occur in all modalities to support all learning styles.
1. Treiman, R. (2018). What research tells us about reading instruction. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 19(1), 1–4. doi: 10.1177/1529100618772272
Summary: Treiman provides an overview of how reading develops. The primary purpose of this study is to inform educators, researchers, and parents on which strategies are the most effective in teaching reading. The author includes a discussion on the ongoing debate of whole language versus phonetics.
2. Pacheco, M.B., & Goodwin, A.P. (2013). Putting two and two together: Middle school students' morphological problem-solving strategies for unknown words. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 56(7), 541–553. doi:10.1002/JAAL.181
Summary: Pacheo and Goodwing discuss strategies that assist students in determining word meaning. One such strategy includes figuring out words by breaking the word down into its smallest parts, such as prefix, root word, and suffix. The recommendations suggests this approach as a means to learn unknown words.