Study guide: Word Families, Syllables and Accurate Fluency

Ideas to explain in your own words

• Prefixes can change the meaning of a familiar base. Un- often means not, re- again, pre- before and trans- across in words built with those parts.
• Derivational suffixes can change a word’s meaning or word class. -ness builds a quality noun, -able an ability adjective, -ful a fullness adjective and -tion an action or result noun.
• A spoken syllable contains a vowel sound. Silent letters and two-letter vowel teams do not necessarily add syllables, so count the pronounced beats.
• Reading accurately and understanding belong together. Different problems need different repairs: a missed word needs decoding, while unknown meaning may require a definition.

Useful vocabulary

Use a meaning-changing prefix

Prefixes can change the meaning of a familiar base. Un- often means not, re- again, pre- before and trans- across in words built with those parts.

Identify a derivational suffix

Derivational suffixes can change a word’s meaning or word class. -ness builds a quality noun, -able an ability adjective, -ful a fullness adjective and -tion an action or result noun.

Count spoken syllables

A spoken syllable contains a vowel sound. Silent letters and two-letter vowel teams do not necessarily add syllables, so count the pronounced beats.

Choose a reading repair

Reading accurately and understanding belong together. Different problems need different repairs: a missed word needs decoding, while unknown meaning may require a definition.

Watch your reasoning

• Not every similar beginning is a meaningful prefix.
• A word ending changes meaning, not only pronunciation.
• Do not count silent e as an extra spoken beat.
• Faster rereading does not automatically fix an unknown word.

Make a practice plan

1. Practice use a meaning-changing prefix: Separate the indicated prefix and base, combine their meanings and check the supplied word definition.
2. Practice identify a derivational suffix: Read the base and stated suffix. Explain the whole word and note whether it names a thing or describes one.
3. Practice count spoken syllables: Say the word naturally, then break it into spoken parts and reconnect them. Compare the number of vowel sounds with the parts.
4. Practice choose a reading repair: Identify whether the problem is the letters, the stopping point, phrase grouping or word meaning. Apply that specific repair to the line.
5. Try the new review before opening its answer. Return to the related lesson if you want more help.