Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

key notes :

Understanding Greek and Latin Roots:

• Explain that many English words are derived from Greek and Latin roots.
• Greek and Latin roots often carry specific meanings that can help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

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Common Greek and Latin Roots:

• Introduce common roots such as:
  • Bio: life (e.g., biology, biography)
  • Tele: far (e.g., telephone, telecommunication)
  • Aqua: water (e.g., aquarium, aqueduct)
  • Struct: build (e.g., structure, construct)
  • Port: carry (e.g., transport, portable)

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Using Words as Clues:

• Teach students to break down unfamiliar words into their root, prefix, and suffix components.
• Encourage them to analyze how these components contribute to the overall meaning of the word.

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Contextual Analysis:

• Emphasize the importance of context in understanding the meaning of words with Greek and Latin roots.
• Provide examples where the context of a sentence helps decipher the meaning of a word based on its root.

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Word Formation:

• Show how adding prefixes and suffixes to roots changes the meaning of words.
• Practice creating new words using known roots and prefixes/suffixes.

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Vocabulary Expansion:

• Discuss how knowledge of Greek and Latin roots can significantly expand their vocabulary.
• Encourage exploration of more complex words and their meanings based on these roots.

Let’s practice!