1. A Powerful New Approach
WORD STUDY
A Powerful New Approach
Phonics
Prefixes
Suffixes
Vocabulary
Howard County is very excited to announce a system-wide initiative in which all students in grades 1-5 will focus on Greek and Latin roots as they are outlined in our new Maryland College and Careeer Ready Standards. A program called Buildiing Vocabulary has been purchased for every classroom teacher. The purpose of this part of our program is to acquaint you with the rationale and implementation of this new approach to word study.
Greek & Latin Roots
Spelling

2. Did you know?? The English language has approximately 2,000,000 words
Technology contributes 20,000 new words per year
School texts and reading materials include more than 180,000 different words
Over 60% of the words students encounter in their reading have recognizable word parts
Root study gives students the ability to learn many new words independently.
Students learn to make connections between words that are phonetically related
Students should be immersed in words with frequent opportunities to use new words in many settings
It is well proven that a strong vocabulary is one of the greatest predictors of success in reading.

3. Word Study THEN Assigned word lists
Little or no connection to curricular areas or each other
The weekly assignment: “Find and write a definition for each word,” or “Use each word in a sentence”
A test came at the end of the week (rote memorization)
Think back to your spelling/word study instruction
There is powerful evidence that rote memorization simply does not work (Allington, 2012; Stahl & Fairbanks, 1986). This age-old method of vocabulary instruction does not invite active engagement. It is drudgery that often can dampen students’ interest in and fascination with words.
Did you have to “learn” words you had rarely encountered?
Did you get a list of unrelated words on Monday, were tested on them on Friday and forgot them by the following Wednesday?

4. Why Use This New Approach?
Systematic approach to word awareness and vocabulary building
90% of English words of two or more syllables are of Greek or Latin origin
Most academic vocabulary is derived from Latin and Greek origins
Principals of word learning
1. Explicit teaching of selected words
2. Instruction should be integrative
3. Include repetition for retention
4. Word learning is a procedural activity
5. Foster word consciousness

5. Word Study
NOW
Word lists are organized through meaningful roots or patterns
Expand and deepen word knowledge during content-area study
The weekly assignment:
“Meet the Root, Combine and
Create, Read and Reason,
Extend and Explore”
Applied spelling and language conventions tests
NOW
Help students see the meaningful patterns that exist in many words and organize words for study by their roots or patterns. This roots approach to word study is efficient and effective.
. As they explore the topic of the unit, students have multiple opportunities to see new words in meaningful contexts and to use them in meaningful ways.

6. WORD STUDY IN SCHOOL
Meet the Root: students define and conquer a list of words as they identify the word parts and roots
Combine and Create: students combine words built from the root and pattern
Read and Reason: students read text in which they encounter the word part/root
Extend and Explore: students create new applications for the vocabulary
This is a structure that you can expect to see in the classrooms

7. WORD STUDY AT HOME Word Sorts: students sort for the pattern
Word Hunts: students search for the pattern in a variety of text
Word Associations: write additional words that connect to the target word or pattern
Vocabulary: students find new and interesting words to put in their notebooks
This is how you can help reinforce learning at home
Take every opportunity to notice words in the natural environment, pointing out patterns and roots in signs, newspapers, books, grocery stores, etc.

8. Word Root Riddle trac/tract tractor attract traction extract contract
subtract
Let’s try a sample: Explain the meaning of the root trac/tract- which means to pull, draw, drag
Teachers ask audience and have then call out the word Connect the meaning of the root to the meaning of each word which has to do with pull, draw, or drag
What pulls a wagon? - tractor
What does the dentist do to your tooth? - extract
What do you sign when you buy a house? - contract
What do you do to find the smaller number? - subtract
What causes you to like someone? –atttraction
What helps elevate a broken limb? - traction
Why Teach Roots?
Students discover how to look for meaningful connections between words they already know and words that they may not know
Deepens students’ understanding of a word’s multiple meaning and introduces them to new usages
trac/tract
pull, draw, drag

9. Texts Containing the Target Root
Transport, export, import too. Port means to carry things, Like from me to you. A porter carries your luggage, A reporter carries the news, Something portable can be moved around. Did you know how a portage might be used?
The Building Vocabulary program contains many opportunities for students to practice the target root in text and rhym. This is an example of a poem they would read.
Definition of portage (n)
Bing Dictionary
port·age
[ páwrtij ]
act of carrying: the carrying or transporting of something
charge for carrying: a charge made for carrying or transporting something
carrying of boats overland: the carrying of boats or cargo across land from one waterway to another or around an unnavigable section of a waterway

10. A New Look for Assessments
Dictation
Word Meaning
A New Look for Assessments
Applied
knowledge
Authentic Assessments
Students will demonstrate their understanding of targeted phonics, roots, and word meaning through dictation assessments given bi-weekly. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation will also be measured.
This is an example of a sample assessment page

11. WORD STUDY SHOULD BE FUN! WORD STUDY CAN BE POWERFUL!!
WORD STUDY IS TRANSFORMATIVE!!!
We are confident that this program will foster a love of word learning among our students, enrich their vocabularies, and enhance their everyday reading and writing.