Moving from Phonics to Structural Analysis: When & How? Michael D. Robinson Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Language Arts/Reading

Food for thought… When do we begin helping students construct meaning from text? When should we begin helping students construct meaning from text?

Note that even at the earliest part of the figure (to the left) there is still emphasis on meaning; likewise even we as mature readers use our knowledge of derivatives, phonics, and other word recognition skills – we just do it under the field of consciousness… Mature adult readers who must focus too much on decoding often lose the meaning as they read…

What is Structural Analysis? One of several word recognition skills in which knowledge of the meaningful parts of words (morphemes) aids in the identification of an unknown written word. As readers mature, they use structural analysis as both a word recognition and reading comprehension skill simultaneously…

What is the difference between Phonics & Structural Analysis? Based on graphology & phonemic awareness Letter/sound relationships Generalizations for pronunciation and spelling OUTCOME = PRONUNCIATION Structural Analysis Based on morphology Units of meaning Generalizations for pronunciation and spelling OUTCOME = PRONUNCIATION + Spelling + MEANING

Consider the following words… unhappy 2 morphemes un(bound) + happy(free) desk 1 morpheme desk (free) redoing 3 morphemes re(bound) + do(free)+ ing(bound) disagreeable dis(bound) + agree(free)+ able(bound)

uncomfortable  comfort Every major word has a meaning-bearing morpheme. This morpheme may be either a bound or a free morpheme… bound = root word derived from another language and will not stand alone in English refer, confer, defer (fer from the Latin to carry or take) concede, recede (cede from the Latin “cedre” to go away or yeild) free = base word English words; will stand on their own girls  girl uncomfortable  comfort redoing  do

REMEMBER: These are morphemes so they all have MEANING! Affixes Suffixes – bound at the end of a word Prefixes –bound at the beginning of the word -base or root REMEMBER: These are morphemes so they all have MEANING! Inflectional Endings – bound at the end of a word AND change number, case, gender (nouns); tense (verbs) form (adjectives & adverbs) Refer to handout

Compound Words & Contractions Combination of 2 free morphemes retaining elements of both meanings and pronunciations of the two previous parts dollhouse racetrack bathroom Contractions Combination of 2 free morphemes into a shortened form using an apostrophe to show the omission of letters are + not = aren’t they + are = they’re he + will = he’ll

Structural Changes & Spelling Generalizations Problematic for beginning readers and spellers Especially if spelling change occurs in base word See handout

In conclusion Structural analysis, like phonics, and Greek & Latin derivatives, is but one tool used by successful readers to unlock the meaning of print. Helping students see that there are many tools available is just the beginning. Helping them choose the most appropriate tool separates the science from the art of teaching… Both are necessary.