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Curriculum › Grade 5 › English Language Arts

Morphology & Fluency

  • Grade 5
  • English Language Arts
  • RF.5.3
  • Reading: Foundational Skills
  • ★ Enrichment

Aligned to RF.5.3 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

Word roots, prefixes, and suffixes are like building blocks that help you read and understand long words. When you know a root, you can figure out a whole family of words and keep your reading fluent.

Worked examples

Example 1

The root 'tele' means far away. So 'telephone' (far sound), 'television' (far sight), and 'telescope' (far seeing) all share that meaning. Spotting the root unlocks them.

Example 2

The root 'spect' means look. Inspect (look into), spectator (one who looks), suspect (look at with doubt) all share it.

Example 3

Knowing roots lets you make a good guess at a word you have never seen. 'Retrospect' has 'retro' (back) and 'spect' (look) — looking back.

Practice questions

  1. List two words that share the root 'port' and define them.
  2. Reread a challenging passage aloud to build fluency.
  3. What does the root 'aud' mean in 'audible' and 'audience'?

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

Morfología y Fluidez Lectora

Las raíces, prefijos y sufijos son como bloques de construcción que te ayudan a leer y entender palabras largas. Cuando conoces una raíz, puedes descifrar toda una familia de palabras y mantener una lectura fluida.

Ejemplo 1: La raíz 'tele' significa lejos. Así, 'teléfono' (sonido lejano), 'televisión' (vista lejana) y 'telescopio' (ver a lo lejos) comparten ese significado. Identificar la raíz te ayuda a entenderlas.

Ejemplo 2: La raíz 'spect' significa mirar. Inspeccionar (mirar dentro), espectador (quien mira), sospechar (mirar con duda) la comparten.

Ejemplo 3: Conocer las raíces te deja adivinar bien una palabra que nunca has visto. 'Retrospectiva' tiene 'retro' (atrás) y 'spect' (mirar) — mirar hacia atrás.

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