Greek and Latin Roots

Many English words have roots derived from Greek and Latin, and understanding these roots helps students deduce meanings and make connections between words. It enhances vocabulary acquisition, supports language comprehension, and equips students with valuable tools for decoding and interpreting words across subjects.

A huge focus in fifth grade is word study. Research is fairly consistent in saying that studying words should be done in conjunction with what’s already being taught in the classroom with small mini-lessons to target specific skills. Today, I wanted to share some resources I have found especially helpful as we have integrated Greek and Latin Root Words into our daily learning.

Introducing Greek and Latin Roots

Each week, as I introduce words for our Class Word Wall we analyze the words we are learning, focusing on specific prefixes, roots, or suffixes.

When first introducing the idea of roots, I used BrainPop’s Video for introducing prefixes, roots, and suffixes. It also has a great quiz for practice! Additionally, you can download the Brain Pop app to use on personal devices and iPads making it the perfect tool/reminder for a literacy center!

Of course, we also jam to Flocabulary’s Root Word video. If you didn’t know, we are all about rapping and LOVE Flocabulary.

Learning Greek and Latin Roots

Each week we also focus in on one root using Rolodex of Roots. I post the root word wheel (I made it using our root cards, Command Hooks, and binder rings) outside of my door and it acts as a “Password” as students enter into my classroom. Each morning, students lead (after many weeks of training) a simple, 3-5 minute activity working with our root – record it, list it, picture it, chant it, and teach it. I’ve blogged more about the routine here.

Practice in Reading Centers

Extra Practice with Latin and Greek Root

Even with the mini-lessons and the weekly focus on specific roots, my kiddos still needed practice…especially my students who have had limited access to words. Knowing we needed more engaging practice, I created a series of puzzles to use during literacy centers. Choosing 7-8 puzzles a week; students have hands-on, interactive practice mastering root words. Each puzzle asks students to match a root, its meaning, and the root in action within a sentence.

To hold my students accountable, I also included four different accountability options for students. The first is a log, where students record the roots they are learning throughout the year. I’ve also included Frayer models, webs for making connections among root words, and a general puzzle piece recording log. All of these resources aren’t meant to be busy work, but function to make sure students are staying on track…we all know how easily distracted our 10 year olds can be when partnered with a friend.

Check out how this 5th grade classroom (Stacey at Literacy for BIG Kids) sets-up her reading centers for easy access! No fuss or frill. The best.

Gamify Morphology!

In literacy centers, we loving playing Stacks! Below are picture from our prefix stacks that we did in January, and now we are playing root word stacks. How does it work? I write a root on the bottom of each cup and its meaning on the inside of the cup. I place the cups in a large Ziploc bag and students works in pairs. One partner grabs a cup. He/she defines the root and then, gives an example of a word that uses the prefix. The partner checks their work (mentally or using the answer I have written on the inside of the cup). If the partner answers correctly, they can add it to their cup pyramid. If incorrect, the cup goes back into the bag. Students work together to build the tallest possible pyramid in our 12 minute work period! Super fun, low maintenance, and great practice!

Plus, Molly Malloy from Lessons with Laughter is using the Morphology Matching cards for a game of memory with her students.

Summing It All Up 

We all have SO many different learners in our classroom, so it helps to have lots of resources at our disposable. These are the resources that I am using and loving! Click below to learn more about them or grab them for your own classroom.

Morphology Puzzles Bundle

Prefix Puzzles, Suffix Puzzles, Greek/Latin Root Puzzles

Root Word of the Week Roldex and Blog Post

Greek and Latin Root Word Games