A Teacher's Guide: Engaging Greek & Latin Morphology Lessons
After students have mastered phonics, Greek and Latin morphology is the next step to grow their vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. Studies have shown that knowledge of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes increases reading comprehension, especially at the sentence level. In addition, knowing the meaning of word parts helps readers unlock the meaning of unknown words, especially with academic vocabulary.
Teachers also know students learn better when they learn through play. According to research by Dr. Karyn Purvis, scientists have discovered that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10 to 20 repetitions. Therefore, we can help students learn Greek and Latin roots and affixes faster by integrating hands-on activities into lessons.
Greek & Latin Word Study Units
Although I loved learning morphology and knew the lessons helped me as a student, I remember doing worksheet after worksheet - not exactly exciting. When I taught fifth grade, I wanted to introduce my students to morphology. The word study units I found mainly followed the pattern of activities I did as a student - one worksheet after another.
There had to be a better way.
I decided to develop my own Greek and Latin Morphology units based on best practices from research and from my teaching experience. In the end, I created weekly lessons that focused on one or two specific word parts. Each week’s lesson (included) is set up in the same format, so that students would know what to expect:
Day 1 - Introduction of Roots or Affixes and Vocabulary Words
Day 2 - Student Choice Activity
Day 3 - Hands-On Activity
Day 4 - Worksheet
Day 5 - Spelling Test
The units have many features that make them both student- and teacher-friendly:
Limited Word List
As you probably know, some students just naturally excel at spelling and vocabulary, while others struggle. While those students seem to pick up new words without much effort, other students can study for hours and not remember most of what they studied.
To increase students’ ability to actually remember the word parts and vocabulary, I decided less is more. Each lesson in my Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes Word Study Units is limited to 1 or 2 word parts and 10 words. If students can remember what the root, prefix, or suffix means, as well as ten words, then they will be able to unlock other related words.
Student Choice
As stated above, students need to use new knowledge repeatedly in order to put it in long-term memory. The best way to get students engaged with their learning is to give them choice in what they do.
Each week, students select an activity in which they authentically use the new vocabulary words. I suggest three different ones in each week’s lesson, but teachers can change them if desired. Students can pick the activity that most appeals to them - whether it’s making Frayer models, creating a comic strip, or writing a story.
Game Play
Games are included in both my printable and digital Greek and Latin Word Study Units. Games are an important way to get students interacting with the words - and discussing their learning with their peers.
Many print games are for small groups, such as dominoes and pictionary, but others are for whole-group play, like BINGO. Sometimes Color-By-Numbers are used for a hands-on activity in place of a game. Digital games are made for single-player.
These games are also perfect to reuse as centers, early finisher activities, Fun Friday, sub plans, and more - a great timesaver for you!
Spiral Review
Students can always benefit from review, so I sprinkled review words throughout the lessons. Each unit is composed of ten sequential lessons. Lessons 2 - 9 incorporate a few words from previous lessons, while lesson ten is a review week.
If you have both the print and digital units, you can save the digital games for center activities later in the year.
Application of Knowledge
It is important for students to apply new knowledge as well. After they have been introduced to the words, completed an activity of their choice, and played a game, students then apply what they have learned on a traditional worksheet.
I wanted to vary the worksheets, just as I did the choice activities and games. Change can help increase student engagement, so the worksheets are focused on different concepts, such as definitions, fill-in-the-blank, synonyms, and affixes.
Use as Both Spelling & Vocab
I found that my students had a hard time keeping up with both a spelling and a vocabulary list. I used these morphology lessons as both. I scored the worksheets as a vocabulary grade and then gave a spelling test each Friday.
Not only did this help students, but it saved me time in my ELA block as well!
Greek & Latin Roots & Affixes Word Study is Flexible
Although I used these lessons with fifth grade, they could be used easily with fourth grade and up. The activities are engaging and designed with older students in mind, so no cutesy clipart. Teachers could adjust their expectations for the student choice activities to meet their students’ abilities.
The lessons could also be taught in a different order. The sets of ten are sequential, but the four quarterly sets do not need to be taught in a particular order. I purposefully created forty weeks so I would have extra lessons. Therefore, teachers may only need 30 weeks, once you remove testing weeks. Skip the quarter your students don’t need or use those for word work.
Teachers, you've got this! By embracing engaging Greek and Latin word study units, you can ignite your students' love for language and boost their vocabulary skills. With hands-on activities, student choice, and fun games, you'll create a dynamic learning experience that sticks. So keep inspiring and empowering your students—it's all about unlocking their potential, one word at a time!
“Play Therapy.” Heights Family Counseling
Stanton, Kathleen. The Importance of Play in Childhood Development. Oak Tree Development Center, 8 Mar. 2019
University, Stanford. “Using Games as an Educational Tool Provides Opportunities for Deeper Learning, Panelists at Stanford Event Say.” Stanford News, 1 Mar. 2013
Whissell-Turner, Kathleen, and Anila Fezjo. Knowledge of Greek and Latin Roots Is Related to Reading Comprehension among French-Speaking Sixth Graders, Accessed 2 July 2023.