Teaching students the meaning of prefixes and suffixes is a great way to increase their vocabulary. When they know basic prefixes and suffixes they are better able to use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words. This is true for all students, but it is particularly helpful for Multilingual Learners (MLs), as they may not be familiar with some of the words that have affixes from past exposure.

Some suffixes can make changes to words such as tense, number, possession, or comparison. A simple way to introduce this to MLs is by making a simple chart. Have a list of words without the suffix and then add words that have the suffix. You can also create charts that show the differences in spelling when adding a suffix to the word.

Suffixes/Inflectional Morphemes	Added to a word	How it changes a word
-s	noun	plural
-er	adjective	comparative
-est	adjective	superlative
-ed	verb	past tense
-ing	verb	progressive
-en	verb	past participle

 

Suffixes	Grammatical Category Base	Grammatical Category with Suffix
-er	verb	noun
-ee	verb	noun
-ee	verb	noun
-less	noun	adjective

Reading Rockets has additional charts for prefixes and suffixes and their meaning.

Here are some of my favorite ways to practice this vocabulary topic with MLs.

Word Sorts

There are so many ways to use word sorts with affixes! Students can sort words into groups based on common prefixes or suffixes. They can sort words based on spelling patterns, such as the different ways that a word ending changes when adding -ing. You can quickly model a word sort to show a spelling pattern and review the meaning of the words that you are using.

Example

Verb	Verb + -ed	How it changes the word
walk	walked	past tense
ask	helped	past tense
help	helped	past tense

Word Hunt

Review what a prefix and/or suffix is. Then as students are reading have them keep track of any prefixes or suffixes that they find. You can give students a sticky note to write down the words, a recording sheet, or if you are using a printed passage place in into a sheet protector and have students use dry erase markers to circle the words.

Simple to read books and passages with prefixes and suffixes

Whole Phonics Level 3 has examples of suffixes.

SyllaSense Decodables include suffixes in the beginning (green) level, and prefixes and suffixes in the purple level.

Junior Learning phase 6 books include suffixes.

I have created short prefix and suffix task cards with one or two easy to read paragraphs that have prefixes and suffixes in them. Students were able to practice identifying affixes in the context of what they were reading.

Use the Words in Sentences

Show students a list of words with the same prefix or suffix. Have them practice using the words in sentences. Include sentence frames for additional support.

They are in a _______ (relationship, partnership, friendship.)

I have ____________ (ownership, citizenship.)

I can _____________ (worship) 

Use Student’s Home Language

Some languages such as Arabic and Hebrew are highly root based. Other languages such as Spanish have some similarities to the Latin prefixes and suffixes used in English. Point out similarities to students. Encourage them to make connections as they are learning about affixes. Show examples if you are able.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a quick way for students to practice creating words that have an affix in it. You can have students use recording sheets to write down the words that they create. You can also print out puzzles and have students add them to an interactive vocabulary notebook.