The Word IdentificationThe Word IdentificationStrategyStrategy

This strategy will help you This strategy will help you dissect long words that you dissect long words that you

encounter when you’re reading.encounter when you’re reading.

Most of you will learn to use this Most of you will learn to use this strategy in this room within 3-4 weeks.strategy in this room within 3-4 weeks.

This is another life-long strategy.This is another life-long strategy. It will also help you with It will also help you with

comprehension and reading fluency, comprehension and reading fluency, since you will learn how to dissect the since you will learn how to dissect the longer words that make reading longer words that make reading difficult.difficult.

Does anyone know Does anyone know what “dissect” mean?what “dissect” mean? It means to divide It means to divide

something or cut something or cut something into something into several parts.several parts.

You’ll be cutting the You’ll be cutting the words up into short words up into short pieces that you can pieces that you can easily pronounce.easily pronounce.

Then you can easily Then you can easily pronounce the pronounce the entire word.entire word.

If you are able to pronounce any If you are able to pronounce any word you encounter, you will be word you encounter, you will be

more likely to understand and more more likely to understand and more able to discuss what you read.able to discuss what you read.

How will this help you How will this help you in classes such as in classes such as English, Science, and English, Science, and Social Studies?Social Studies?

That’s right! You’ll be That’s right! You’ll be better able to answer better able to answer questions in class and questions in class and in your reading in your reading assignments.assignments.

You can use the Word You can use the Word Identification Identification Strategy any Strategy any

time you are reading something time you are reading something and come upon a long word and come upon a long word you’ve never seen before.you’ve never seen before.

Can you Can you think of think of situations situations when this when this happens?happens?

Now Let’s go over the steps Now Let’s go over the steps of the Word Identification of the Word Identification

Strategy.Strategy. Keep your cue Keep your cue

cards in your cards in your folder, so you folder, so you will be able to will be able to refer to them refer to them whenever you whenever you need them.need them.

Step 1: Discover the Step 1: Discover the contextcontext

The context is the The context is the meaning of the meaning of the other words that other words that surround the surround the difficult word.difficult word.

Sometimes, if you Sometimes, if you know the meaning know the meaning of the words of the words surrounding a surrounding a difficult word, you difficult word, you can guess what the can guess what the word is.word is.

Play: Context Clue Song!!

What do you usually do What do you usually do when you come to a when you come to a

difficult word?difficult word? That’s right! You That’s right! You

usually stop to try usually stop to try to figure it out. to figure it out. Well, this requires Well, this requires you to do just the you to do just the opposite; you need opposite; you need to skip the difficult to skip the difficult word and keep word and keep reading to finish reading to finish the sentence in the sentence in which it occurs.which it occurs.

Why would reading the Why would reading the whole sentence help you whole sentence help you

figure out a word?figure out a word?

It helps you to think about the It helps you to think about the meaning of the sentence and to try meaning of the sentence and to try to guess the best word that will fit to guess the best word that will fit in place of the difficult word.in place of the difficult word.

If you can’t think of a word that If you can’t think of a word that matches, you need to go to step matches, you need to go to step 2...2...

Direct definition context cluesDirect definition context clues are words that are words that say, “Stop - don’t touch that dictionary. The say, “Stop - don’t touch that dictionary. The

definition of the word you don’t know is right here definition of the word you don’t know is right here in the text!" in the text!"

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: There are many There are many theoriestheories, , oror ideasideas, ,

about what made the Ice Ages about what made the Ice Ages happen.happen.

In this sentence the word “ideas” tells us In this sentence the word “ideas” tells us that that theoriestheories are different thoughts are different thoughts people have about something.people have about something.

After a time, After a time, glaciersglaciers, , or slowly or slowly moving rivers of icemoving rivers of ice, , formed over formed over many parts of the Earth.many parts of the Earth.

In this sentence the words “slowly moving In this sentence the words “slowly moving rivers of ice” tell us what rivers of ice” tell us what glaciersglaciers are. are.

Synonym context cluesSynonym context clues are words are words around a difficult word that mean around a difficult word that mean

the same or nearly the same as the the same or nearly the same as the word.word.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: After seeing the picture of the starving After seeing the picture of the starving

children, we felt children, we felt compassioncompassion or pity for or pity for their suffering.their suffering.

In this sentence the word “pity” tells us that In this sentence the word “pity” tells us that compassioncompassion means to have understanding for. means to have understanding for.

Mary Mary admonishedadmonished her students and they her students and they knew they were in hot water for their knew they were in hot water for their actions.actions.

In this sentence the words “in hot water” tell us In this sentence the words “in hot water” tell us that that admonishedadmonished means cautioned or scolded. means cautioned or scolded.

Antonym context cluesAntonym context clues are words are words around a difficult word that mean the around a difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly the opposite as the opposite or nearly the opposite as the

word.word.EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Joe was Joe was reluctantreluctant to take the job of to take the job of captain of the team. He was afraid captain of the team. He was afraid that the time it would take would that the time it would take would hurt his grades. On the other hand, hurt his grades. On the other hand, Billy was eager for the chance to be Billy was eager for the chance to be the team captain.the team captain.

In this sentence the words “on the other In this sentence the words “on the other hand” and “eager” tell us that Billy feels hand” and “eager” tell us that Billy feels the opposite of Joe, therefore, the opposite of Joe, therefore, reluctantreluctant means uncertain or cautious.means uncertain or cautious.

Let’s Look for clues in this Let’s Look for clues in this ActivityActivity!!

Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning a new language. Read what he wrote in his diary and see if a new language. Read what he wrote in his diary and see if

you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words.you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words.Dear Diary,Dear Diary,

I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofspoof-poofs very quickly, and I almost missed the very quickly, and I almost missed the tramzamtramzam. . When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my zilgpingzilgping . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very zooshzoosh, and told me I , and told me I could bring it tomorrow.could bring it tomorrow.

After school, some friends and I played After school, some friends and I played plingmingplingming. . It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were the only scored 5 points, so we were the zoiterszoiters!!

Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the fladderfladder . I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I . I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though.hope I don’t get a sunburn though.

Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake up late again and miss my up late again and miss my tramzamtramzam!!

Until tomorrow,Until tomorrow,RyanRyan

In pairs, write the words with possible meanings.

And the answers are!And the answers are! What could the word What could the word poof-poofspoof-poofs mean? mean?

► The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know that it The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know that it is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also know that is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also know that it goes in a bowl. What do you think it is?it goes in a bowl. What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be a The most logical guess would be a type of cerealtype of cereal..

What could the word What could the word tramzamtramzam mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he almost The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he almost

missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?► The most logical guess would be a The most logical guess would be a school busschool bus..

What could the word What could the word zilgpingzilgping mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at school. I The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at school. I

also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think it is?also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think it is?► The most logical guess would be The most logical guess would be Ryan’s homeworkRyan’s homework..

What could the word What could the word zooshzoosh mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and that Ms. Jutzi The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and that Ms. Jutzi

is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the next day. is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the next day. What do you think it is?What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be The most logical guess would be friendly or understandingfriendly or understanding..

The rest are!The rest are! What could the word What could the word plingmingplingming mean? mean?

►The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his friends The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his friends play against each other and that points can be scored. play against each other and that points can be scored. What do you think it is?What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a sport such as The most logical guess would be a sport such as basketball or soccerbasketball or soccer..

What could the word What could the word zoiterszoiters mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team scored 7 The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team scored 7

points while the other team scored less points. What points while the other team scored less points. What do you think it is?do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be that it means The most logical guess would be that it means winnerswinners..

What could the word What could the word fladderfladder mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad said he could go The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad said he could go

there and when he gets there they will swim and play there and when he gets there they will swim and play in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a sunburn. What do you think it is?sunburn. What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a lake or a The most logical guess would be a lake or a beachbeach..

Let’s examine what context Let’s examine what context is…is…

Practice #1-2Practice #1-2 Context Clues Exercise

Word Clue Activity

Practice #3-4Practice #3-4 TV Activity

English Zone Activity

Context Clues Pretesthttp://www.shsu.edu/~txcae/Powerpoints/prepostest/contextclues1pretest.html

Context Clues Posttesthttp://www.shsu.edu/~txcae/Powerpoints/prepostest/cluesdefinepostest.html

More Activities for Later…More Activities for Later… Print and Do WorksheetPrint and Do Worksheet

– http://www.woodland.k12.mo.us/faculty/rgarner/Reading/Using%20Context%20Clues_riddles.doc

Context Clues Practice SheetsContext Clues Practice Sheets– http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/

palmasola/ccprac1.htmpalmasola/ccprac1.htm– http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/

palmasola/ccprac2.htmpalmasola/ccprac2.htm– http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/

palmasola/rcdc2cc.htmpalmasola/rcdc2cc.htm– http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/

palmasola/rcdc2cc.htmpalmasola/rcdc2cc.htm

Prefixes & SuffixesPrefixes & Suffixes

Prefix & Suffix Rap SongPrefix & Suffix Rap Song

Prefix Suffix Video ClipPrefix Suffix Video Clip

Step 2: Isolate the Step 2: Isolate the prefixprefix

A A prefixprefix consists of one consists of one or more letters at the or more letters at the beginning of a word.beginning of a word.

There are 56 you will There are 56 you will learn.learn.

To isolate the To isolate the prefixprefix, , you look at the you look at the beginning of the word beginning of the word to see if the initial to see if the initial letters match any of letters match any of the prefixes you know.the prefixes you know.

Then isolate it by Then isolate it by making a bar.making a bar.

There are 56 prefixes! You have a cue There are 56 prefixes! You have a cue card!card!

ab-ab- ac-ac- ad-ad- Ante-Ante- Anti-Anti- Ap- (up)Ap- (up) At-At- Auto-Auto- Be-Be- Bi-Bi- Circum-Circum- Col-Col- Com-Com- Con-Con-

De-De- Dem-Dem- Di-Di- Dis-Dis- Dys-Dys- Em-Em- En-En- Epi-Epi- Ex-Ex- For-For- Fore-Fore- Hydro-Hydro- Hyper-Hyper-

In-In- Inter-Inter- Intro-Intro- Loco-Loco- Mis-Mis- Mono-Mono- Multi-Multi- Non-Non- Ob-Ob- Of- (off)Of- (off) Op- (up)Op- (up) Para-Para- Per-Per-

Post-Post- Pre-Pre- Pro-Pro- Re-Re- Retro-Retro- Se-Se- Sub-Sub- Super-Super- Sur-Sur- Tele-Tele- Trans-Trans- Tri-Tri- Ultra- Ultra-

Before you go on to Before you go on to step 3...step 3...

Some of the prefixes Some of the prefixes are included in other are included in other prefixes.prefixes.

For example,”de” is For example,”de” is included in “dem”.included in “dem”.

That means you have to That means you have to be very careful when be very careful when you see a word starting you see a word starting with “de”with “de”

What are some other What are some other prefixes on the list that prefixes on the list that are contained in other are contained in other prefixes?prefixes?

Also...Also...

Look for Look for compound compound prefixes.prefixes.

For example, For example, “pro-se-cute”“pro-se-cute”

Make two Make two marks to marks to isolate each isolate each prefix.prefix.

Let’s try a practice!Let’s try a practice!

Prefix MatchingPrefix Matching

Step 3: Step 3: Separate the Separate the

suffixsuffix AA suffix suffix is group of is group of

letters that comes letters that comes at the end of a at the end of a word.word.

Let’s look at the Let’s look at the list.list.

Make sure you find Make sure you find each complete each complete suffix and mark it.suffix and mark it.

Look for compound Look for compound suffixes too.suffixes too.

Some words include two or Some words include two or more suffixes or a more suffixes or a

“compound suffix”.“compound suffix”.

What are the What are the two suffixes in two suffixes in this word?this word?

HelplessnessHelplessness That’s right!That’s right! ““less” less” and and

“ness”“ness” Separate them Separate them

bothboth

Suffix ListSuffix List -able-able -age-age -al-al -ance-ance -ar-ar -ant-ant -ate -ate -ble-ble -cy-cy -ed-ed -en-en -ence-ence

-ent-ent -er-er -es-es -est-est -ey-ey -ful-ful -gamy-gamy -gon-gon -hood-hood -ial-ial -ible-ible -ic-ic

-ice (is)-ice (is) -ing-ing -ion-ion -ish-ish -ism-ism -ist-ist -ite (it)-ite (it) -ity-ity -ive (iv)-ive (iv) -ize (eyes)-ize (eyes) -less-less -logy-logy -ly-ly

-man-man --mentment -ness-ness -or-or -ous-ous -ry-ry -ship-ship -sion-sion -tion -tion -tive-tive -ty-ty -ual-ual -ure-ure -ward-ward -y-y

Let’s Practice!Let’s Practice!

Suffix Practice Suffix Practice

To review this third step, To review this third step, you look at the end of the you look at the end of the

word to see if the last word to see if the last letters match any of the letters match any of the

suffixes you know.suffixes you know.

Then go to step 4!Then go to step 4!

Step 4: Say Step 4: Say the stemthe stem

The The stemstem of a of a word is left after word is left after you take away you take away the prefix and the the prefix and the suffix.suffix.

If there is no If there is no prefix or suffix prefix or suffix then the whole then the whole word is the stem.word is the stem.

Let’s try an example...Let’s try an example...

UnfairlyUnfairly What is the What is the

prefix?prefix? What is the What is the

suffix?suffix? What is the stem?What is the stem? If you can say the If you can say the

stem you need to stem you need to go to step 5.go to step 5.

Step 5: Step 5: Examine the Examine the

stemstem When you When you

examine the examine the stemstem, you need , you need to dissect it into to dissect it into easy-to-easy-to-pronounce parts.pronounce parts.

You’ll need to You’ll need to apply the Rules apply the Rules of Twos and of Twos and Threes.Threes.

Let’s practice!Let’s practice!

Fish tank Fish tank

The Rule of Twos and The Rule of Twos and Threes is:Threes is:

If a stem begins If a stem begins with a with a vowelvowel, , separate the first separate the first two letters to two letters to pronounce pronounce

If the stem begins If the stem begins with a with a consonantconsonant, , separate the first separate the first three letters to three letters to pronounce.pronounce.

Let’s look at an Let’s look at an example...example...

Try to remember!Try to remember!

V-2V-2C-3C-3 Al/ter-nat/orAl/ter-nat/or Keep applying the Keep applying the

rules until you’re rules until you’re done with the stem.done with the stem.

Step 6: Check with Step 6: Check with someonesomeone

It is only used after It is only used after you’ve tried the first you’ve tried the first five steps and you five steps and you still can’t figure out still can’t figure out how to pronounce how to pronounce the word.the word.

Can you tell me Can you tell me what the word is?what the word is?

Who would be a Who would be a good person to ask?good person to ask?

Step 7: Try the Step 7: Try the dictionarydictionary

It is to be used when It is to be used when you can’t find you can’t find someone to ask or someone to ask or when the people you when the people you ask don’t know the ask don’t know the word either.word either.

Look it up in the Look it up in the dictionary and check dictionary and check the pronunciation the pronunciation guide that usually guide that usually follows the word.follows the word.

Online Dictionaries help Online Dictionaries help too! Some have audio too!too! Some have audio too!

Merriam Webster Merriam Webster Dictionary.com Dictionary.com Webster's Dictionary Webster's Dictionary Yahoo Kids DictionaryYahoo Kids Dictionary Word Central Word Central MSN Encarta MSN Encarta

Now you know what D-Now you know what D-I-S-S-E-C-T means!!I-S-S-E-C-T means!!

DD II SS SS EE CC TT