Week Ten

Etymology- The study of the origin and historical development of words. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)

Studying the origin of words is important to vocabulary development.  Knowing the historical development of words creates an interest in words and allows students to dive deeper into the origins and make connections to other words.








Stem- This usually refers to a base or word root together with any derivational affixes that have been added, and to which inflectional endings may be added. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)

This is another word for a base word and is important to development because it helps students understand words and their meanings.  They need to have this knowledge before moving on to affixes because they have to understand what they are adding the affixes to.









Free Morpheme- Meaning units of language (morphemes) that stand alone as words. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)
Workshop has two morphemes, work and shop.

These are simple words that stand alone.  It is important for students to understand free morphemes so they are able to understand bound morphemes.










Bound Morpheme- Meaning units of language (morphemes) that cannot stand alone as a word. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)
Respected has three bound morphemes, re-spect-ed

It is important for students to understand that a bound morphemes cannot stand alone and they need to understand the difference in a free morpheme versus a bound morpheme. 


Concept Sorts- A categorization task in which pictures, objects, or words are grouped by shared attributes or meanings to develop concepts and vocabulary. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)

Concepts sorts are extremely important to vocabulary development.  Students are able to make connections to words and between words. Concept sorts are also a great way to integrate different subject areas into phonics.









Absorbed or Assimilated Prefix- Prefix in which the spelling and sound of the consonant has been absorbed into the spelling and sound at the beginning of the base or root to which the prefix is affixed. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)

These types of prefixes are important because they seem and feel awkward to students.  They need to know the meaning of these prefixes in order to use them correctly when speaking and writing.







Reduced Vowel- A vowel occurring in an unstressed syllable. (Words Their Way, 6th Ed.)



A reduced vowel is similar to the schwa and tends to sound like /uh/.