LESSON TWO: Vocabulary Development

                             

LESSON DESCRIPTION

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

R1E         Develop vocabulary through text, using roots, affixes, context clues, glossary, dictionary, and thesaurus.

 

LESSON MATERIALS

§         Sources of literature 

 

§         Supplies 

o        Chalkboard or smartboard

 

§         Handouts provided

o        None

 

§         Words to Know

o        affixes

o        context clues

o        roots

 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Students are given five root words to create new words by adding both a prefix and suffix. Students create as many new real words as possible. They are asked to find the definition of each new word from a dictionary or glossary and keep a running list of definitions using the same root word. Students share finding in a large group if time allows.

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

  1. Write the word irresistible on the board. Ask a student to draw a line dividing the word into smaller words. The student may seek help from other students if needed. Discuss how dividing the word helps to pronounce the word.

 

Strategy

Using the given word (or choose another, such as relocation or prereading), divide it into its different parts.

 

Questions

for

Students

What is a root word?

What is a prefix? Suffix? (Affixes)

How can a dictionary be useful when reading an unfamiliar word?

How do affixes change the meaning of a word?

 

  1. Model the “think-aloud” process to explain how to divide a word to discover its parts and definition.

 

Strategy

Think-aloud strategies can be found in Keene and Zimmerman’s Mosaic of Thought, Atwell’s in the Middle, and Robb’s Teaching Reading in the Middle School.

 

Questions

for

Students

 

What is a root word?

What is a prefix? Suffix? (affixes)

How can a dictionary be useful when reading an unfamiliar word?

How do affixes change the meaning of a word?

 

  1. Introduce common prefixes on the board or smart board (re, in, un, mis, dis, etc.) Give new words, students work in pairs to learn how a root word definition changes using the dictionary, glossary, or thesaurus. Students find words individually with both prefixes and suffixes from a passage read in class and list these on paper. Have a group discussion to share examples of how the affixes change the meaning of the sentence and passage.