Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots

Key Notes :

1. Introduction to Greek and Latin Roots:

• Greek and Latin Roots: Explain that many English words come from Greek and Latin roots, which can help in understanding the meanings of complex words.
• Roots vs. Prefixes/Suffixes: Clarify that roots form the base of a word, while prefixes and suffixes modify the meaning.

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2. Common Greek Roots:

• Examples:
  • “Bio” (life): Biology, Biography
  • “Graph” (write): Autograph, Paragraph
  • “Tele” (far): Telephone, Television
  • “Phon” (sound): Symphony, Phonograph

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3. Common Latin Roots:

• Examples:
  • “Vid/Vis” (see): Video, Vision
  • “Dict” (say): Dictate, Dictionary
  • “Port” (carry): Transport, Portable
  • “Scribe/Script” (write): Describe, Manuscript

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4. Combining Roots with Prefixes and Suffixes:

• Example: The root “graph” (write) combined with the prefix “tele-” (far) forms “telephone” (a device for writing sound over long distances).
• Example: The root “bio” (life) combined with the suffix “-logy” (study of) forms “biology” (the study of life).

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5. Strategies for Determining Meanings:

• Break Down the Word: Identify the root and any prefixes or suffixes. Analyze each part to infer the meaning.
  • Example: “Photograph” = “Photo” (light) + “Graph” (write) = “A picture made with light.”
• Context Clues: Use the surrounding text to help understand the word.
• Word Families: Recognize related words that share the same root.
  • Example: “Inspect,” “Prospect,” and “Spectator” all share the root “spect” (look).

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6. Practice with Examples:

• Activity: Provide a list of words with Greek and Latin roots. Have students break down the words and match them with their meanings.
• Examples: “Hydraulic” (water + work), “Microscope” (small + view)

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7. Creating New Words:

• Activity: Ask students to create new words using known roots and affixes. Then, guess their meanings based on the roots.

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8. Review and Reinforcement:

• Review: Regularly revisit roots and their meanings.
• Games: Use word games or quizzes to make learning about roots engaging and memorable.

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9. Application in Reading and Writing:

• Reading: Encourage students to identify roots in texts they read.
• Writing: Have students use their understanding of roots to create more precise and descriptive writing.

Let’s practice!