Steps to figuring out an unfamiliar word …

1. Look for CONTEXT CLUES and SIGNAL WORDS.

• DEFINITION The meaning of the unfamiliar word is given right in the sentence.

Signal words: is, are, or, means, refers to

• SYNONYM A similar word is given for the unfamiliar word.

Signal words: also, as like, same, too

• ANTONYM A word meaning the opposite of the unfamiliar word is given.

Signal words: but, unlike, though, however, instead of

• EXAMPLE Samples, instances, or ideas of the unfamiliar word are given.

Signal words: for example, like, such as, including

• GENERAL General clues are given about the unfamiliar word.

No signal words

2. Use WORD PARTS.

• BASE WORD/ROOT • PREFIX • SUFFIX

3. Attempt to determine the meaning of the word and use it in the sentence.

4. If necessary, use the DICTIONARY or OTHER RESOURCES.

* Usecontextcluesfor:DirectiveContext:Givesclues,hints,andsynonymstodetermineanapproximatewordmeaning• Listcontextcluesfoundintext• Askstudentstousethewordinanoralsentence• Writethewordinasentence

Contextcluesdon'tworkfor:Non‐directiveContext:GivesnocluestodeterminewordmeaningMis‐directiveContext:Givescluesthatleadreaderstofalsemeaningconstruction

FromDr.RayReutzel’spowerpointonVocabularyInstruction

UsingWordPartsTheimportantthingistohavestudentsunderstandhowtouseaffixesandroots/basewordstodeterminethemeaningofanewword.

Example:Thestudentsthoughtthebookwasincomprehensible.

•in=not•comprehens=tounderstand•ible=abletodosomething;alsochangesthiswordfromverbtoadjective

***incomprehensible=notabletounderstand

Usewordwebswithrootssochildrenlearnmanynewwordsfromafewtargetwords.spectator spectacle inspection

spect

fromDr.RayReutzel’spowerpointonVocabularyInstruction

CommonPrefixesandSuffixeswithTheirMeanings

Prefix Meaning FrequencyofUsage

un‐ not;reversalofactionorstate 26%re‐ again 14%in‐,im‐,‐il,‐ir not,without;in,into,towards,inside 11%dis‐ negation,removal,expulsion 7%en‐,em‐ putintooron;bringintotheconditionof;intensify 4%non‐ absence,negation 4%over‐ excessively,completely;upper,outer,over,above 3%mis‐ bad,erroneous,lackof 3%sub‐ atalowerposition;lowerinrank;nearly,approximately 3%pre‐ beforeintime,place,orderofimportance 3%inter‐ between,among 3%fore‐ before,front,preceding,superior 3%de‐ down,away;completely;removal,reversal 2%trans‐ across,beyond;intoadifferentstate 2%super‐ over,above,toaveryhighdegree 1%semi‐ half,partly 1%anti‐ opposing,against,theopposite 1%mid‐ middle 1%under‐ toolittle;beneath,below;lowerinrank 1%

Suffix Meaning FrequencyofUsage

‐er,‐or personwho(nounsuffix) 4%‐ion,‐tion,‐ation,‐ition actof,resultof 4%‐able,‐ible abletobe 2%‐al,‐ial pertainingto 1%‐y fullof,characterizedby 1%‐ness denotingqualityorstate 1%‐ity,‐ty expressingqualityorstate 1%‐ment denotingactionorresultingstate;aproductormeans 1%‐ic havingsomecharacteristicsof,inthestyleof 1%‐ous,‐ious,‐eous possessing,fullof 1%‐en madeof,make 1%‐ive,‐tive,‐ative like 1%‐ful fullof 1%‐less lacking 1%

CompiledbyA.Siegel,2011