Definition of Strategy
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Morphology and Etymology involve looking at the structure and origin of words. These strategies can help students to better understand where words come from, what words mean and how to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Morphology is the study of the structure of words. According to Adolescent Literacy "Morphology describes how words are formed from morphemes. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a word." (2007, p. 8) Morphemes include roots, prefixes and suffixes. As students learn morphemes, they increase their abilities to decode, comprehend and spell words. (2007, p. 9) Etymology is the study of the origins of words. Studying etymology involves learning the Latin and Greek roots and their meanings. |
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Supporting Research
Studying morphology is important because it helps students to understand word families and patterns within words. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 29) According to Literacy in Context, "When students are taught about the generative nature of words, they can unlock the meaning of the words in a strategic way." (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 29) So if students understand what the root word, prefix and suffix means, they will be able to determine the meaning of the word as a whole.
Understanding the different word parts may help students have a better and more thorough understanding of vocabulary words. According to Adolescent Literacy, "Students who understand words at the morphemic level are better able to get the meaning of words and are better prepared to deal with the increased reading and writing demands across the
curriculum and content areas. Good readers use their knowledge of morphological structure
to recognize complex words." (2007, p. 9)
Research shows that nearly 70% of multi-syllabic words in the English language come from Greek and Latin Roots. (English and Reading, 2012) If students know the meanings of Greek and Latin roots and understand where words come from, they will be able to make connections between words with similar roots. Learning the meanings of these root words will help students to link new words to prior knowledge.
Understanding the different word parts may help students have a better and more thorough understanding of vocabulary words. According to Adolescent Literacy, "Students who understand words at the morphemic level are better able to get the meaning of words and are better prepared to deal with the increased reading and writing demands across the
curriculum and content areas. Good readers use their knowledge of morphological structure
to recognize complex words." (2007, p. 9)
Research shows that nearly 70% of multi-syllabic words in the English language come from Greek and Latin Roots. (English and Reading, 2012) If students know the meanings of Greek and Latin roots and understand where words come from, they will be able to make connections between words with similar roots. Learning the meanings of these root words will help students to link new words to prior knowledge.
Internet Resources
1. Root Word Lesson Plans - this website provides twelve lesson plans that teach about roots. The site also includes many other puzzles and activities that can be used to teach roots.
http://myvocabulary.com/lesson-plans/word-roots-1-beginner/
2. Words Alive Map - this a graphic organizer that integrates morphology and etymology into teaching new vocab words.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/middle/wordsalive/index.shtml
3. Flip-a-Chip - this is an interactive tool that allows students to practice roots and affixes. Students match word parts together to create new words and then place those new words into a paragraph to show their understanding of the word meanings.
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/flip-chip-30031.html
4. Bingo Lingo - this game helps students recognize words based on Latin and Greek roots and categorize words into families. This document provides game instructions and game boards.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary/pdf/bingo_lingo.pdf
5. Root Words - this worksheet divides words into prefixes, roots and suffixes.
http://www.readingresource.net/support-files/rootwords.pdf
http://myvocabulary.com/lesson-plans/word-roots-1-beginner/
2. Words Alive Map - this a graphic organizer that integrates morphology and etymology into teaching new vocab words.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/english/middle/wordsalive/index.shtml
3. Flip-a-Chip - this is an interactive tool that allows students to practice roots and affixes. Students match word parts together to create new words and then place those new words into a paragraph to show their understanding of the word meanings.
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/flip-chip-30031.html
4. Bingo Lingo - this game helps students recognize words based on Latin and Greek roots and categorize words into families. This document provides game instructions and game boards.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary/pdf/bingo_lingo.pdf
5. Root Words - this worksheet divides words into prefixes, roots and suffixes.
http://www.readingresource.net/support-files/rootwords.pdf
Video
This video demonstrates a lesson focusing on prefixes, suffixes and root words. The teacher has students give examples of prefixes and suffixes and their meanings. The students then make new words by adding prefixes and suffixes to the root words.
