+

An Intro to Word RootsGetting to the ROOT of vocabulary comprehension

+The English Language Is…

+

So, What is your first step?

+The same strategy works with words…

+Instead of Colors You Use…

■ Word Roots:■ Greek and Latin Roots■ Prefixes■ Suffixes

+ Your results

■ You can figure out hundreds of words at a time by learning one root.

■90% of English words containing two or more syllables come from Greek or Latin roots.

+More Reasons...

● Most of the academic words in English (e.g., math and science words) are derived from Latin and Greek.

● Most of the more challenging multisyllabic words in English are derived from Latin and Greek.

● A single Latin or Greek root or affix (word pattern) can be found in and aid in the understanding (as well as decoding and encoding) of 20 or more

English words.

+Combine with Reading for Maximum Effect!

Word stem studies work when you combine them with ample time to read. According to Richard Allington, the time spent reading in class is critical to vocabulary acquisition. Consider these numbers, tied to achievement:

Achievement Percentile Min. Read/Day Words/Year

Exposure

90th 40.4

2,357,000

50th 12.9 601,000

10th 1.6 51,000

+A Word You Know:

INCREDIBLE:■Prefix:■Root: (etymology)■Suffix:Definition:

+A more challenging word:

INCREDULOUS:■Prefix:■Root:■Suffix:Definition:

+Taking Notes: How to OrganizeSide 1: Vocab

Terms/Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes■ Prefix

■ Suffix

■ Root

■ CRED

■ Credulous

■ Incredulous

■ In-

■ -ous

Side 2: Definitions and Examples■ Placed at the beginning of a root

to change meaning.

■ Placed at the ending of a root to change meaning.

■ A simple word part that holds meaning.

Believe

■ Believe too easily/gullible

■ Does not believe easily/skeptical

■ NOT

■ FULL OF

+ MOB/MOT

■ WORD TOWER:

+ MOB/MOT= TO MOVE

+Words Containing MOB/MOT

■ Mobilize

■ Demobilization

■ Promote

■ Demote

■ Motivation

Words We Will Cover:

+Mobilize

■ Definition: Make moveable

■ Ize- VERB

+Demobilize

■ Definition:

■ De-

+Promote

■ Definition:■ To move forward■ To advance/further the

progress of something or someone

Pro-

+Demote

■ Definition:

■ De-

+Motivation

■ Definition:

■ Tion- NOUN

+VER-

■ WORD TOWER

+VER = TRUTH

+Word Bank

■ Very■ Verify■ Verisimilitude■ Veracious

+Very

■ Definition:

+Verify

■ Definition:

■ -ify:

+Verisimilitude

■ Definition: appearance of being the truth■ “similar to the truth”

■ Sim-

+Veracious

■ Definition:

■ ous/cious

+Fid-

■ WORD TOWER

+FID = TRUST/FAITH

+Word Bank:

Confidence

Diffidence

Fidelity

Infidel

+Confidence

■ Definition: full trust in a person or thing

■ Con: with

+Diffidence

■ Definition:

■ Dif: (same as dis) not/away

+Fidelity

■ Definition: ■ Loyalty

■ -ity:

+Infidel

■ Definition:

■ In- NOT

+AM-

■ Word Tower

+AM=LOVE

+Words We’ll Cover:

■ Amorous■ Amateur■ Amicable■ Amity

+Amorous

Definition:

+Amateur

■ Definition:

+Amicable

■ Definition:

+Amity

Definition:

+PET

■ WORD TOWER

+PET= seek, strive, or move toward

+Words We’ll Cover

■ Compete■ Competent/Incompetent■ Perpetual■ Impetus

+Compete

■ Definition: To strive against another or others to attain a goal, such as an advantage or a victory.

■ Com-

+Competent

■ Definition: Having correct or adequate skills or qualities.

■ Incompetent:

■ In:

+Perpetual

■ Definition: never ending or changing

■ Per- Very/ thoroughly/through

+Impetus

■ Definition:■ The force that gets someone/something moving or

keeps them/it moving.

■ Im-in/into