Goal: Use Affixes (Prefixes and Suffixes) to Decode Unknown Words
Sample Goal:
When presented with an unknown word, Client will identify the root, prefix, and or suffix and use those common prefixes and suffixes to guess at the meaning of the word on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
Download the No-Prep Therapy Kit:
We have a start-to-finish therapy kit that will give you everything you need to practice this skill in therapy and send home homework. Click the packet below to open it. Then, print it out and place it in the child’s notebook or binder.
Therapy Phases:
- Identify root vs. prefix: When presented with a word that contains a common prefix, Client will identify which part of the word is the root and which part is the prefix on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
- Define common prefixes: Client will provide definitions/meanings for at least 8 common prefixes, such as: un-, re-, in-, dis-, over-, mis-, pre-, super-
- Dissect words with prefixes and identify the meaning: When presented with a word that contains a common prefix, Client will guess the meaning of the word based on the meanings of the prefix and the root on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
- Identify root vs. suffix: When presented with a word that contains a common suffix, Client will identify which part of the word is the root and which part is the suffix on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
- Define common suffixes: Client will provide definitions/meanings for at least 8 common suffixes, such as: -s, -ed, -ing, -ly, -er, -ness, -able, -less
- Dissect words with suffixes and identify the meaning: When presented with a word that contains a common suffix, Client will guess the meaning of the word based on the meanings of the suffix and the root on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
- Identify prefix, root, and suffix: When presented with a word that contains a common prefix and a common suffix, Client will identify which part of the word is the root, which part is the prefix, and which part is the suffix on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
- Dissect words with prefix and suffix and identify the meaning: When presented with a word that contains a common suffix and a common prefix, Client will guess the meaning of the word based on the meanings of the suffix, prefix, and the root on at least 80% of observed opportunities.
What’s Next?
- From here, you can teach the client how to use this same formula to learn new prefixes and suffixes. You can also talk about prefixes and suffixes that occur in specific lessons/texts at school. For example, there are many science affixes that may be used in the client’s science curriculum that can be taught explicitly using this format. You can also train teachers and parents to use this format for teaching new affixes at home and in the classroom.
Disclaimer (For Copy and Paste):
Feel free to copy and paste these sample goals into your plan but make sure you modify them to meet the individual needs of the child. This should include individualized level of cueing, such as "independently" or "with verbal prompts".
Supplemental Materials
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