In my most recent post, I promised you some easy-to-use tools for targeting prefixes and suffixes in speech therapy.
If you read this research review, you know how important this skill is for our students because its a predictor of reading performance (Apel & Henbest, 2016).
I showed you an evidence-based protocol here, but now I want to make sure you have a handful of go-to resources with lists of prefixes and suffixes so you can incorporate this in to your therapy.
The three resources I’ll be reviewing today are the Prefixes and Suffixes Unit by Cathy Boudreau from Speech Gems, the Prefixes and Suffixes Packet from Kristin Immicke from Talkin’ with Twang, and my Word Study ToolKit for SLPs.
You’ll notice the first two are resources from Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT).
There’s been a lot of debate about whether or not you’re following EBP when you’re using TpT products. Many of the activities I’ve seen outlined in TpT products do fall in line with effective practices outlined in the published research.
Of course there are some that don’t, and we need to be good consumers when we’re looking at any products we purchase for therapy (for prefixes and suffixes or any type of language skill).
As a general rule, if you’re using a tool for some type of strategic practice as you give purposeful feedback, you’re probably doing what you’re supposed to be doing.
When it comes to doing that with prefixes and suffixes for building morphology, I’ve done some of the work for you.
Since I’ve already done some research on effective practices for building morphology, I’m now following it up with some specific tools you can use to follow the recommendations in the research.
That means you can rest assured that these tools I’ll share with you today for prefixes and suffixes follow EBP.
This is assuming you’re using them the right way, such as following this protocol I’ve described here. If you’re just having your students drill words while you check your email, you probably won’t see great results. 🙂
Tool #1: The Prefixes and Suffixes Unit by Speech Gems
The first tool I want to mention is the Prefixes and Suffixes Unit created by Cathy Boudreau from Speech Gems. It has some similarities with my Word Study ToolKit, but the two actually would complement each other well.
This 74-page Prefixes and Suffixes Unit comes with a set of 15 prefixes and 10 suffixes (each with a corresponding definition). This unit also includes examples of words that contain each of the affixes; an important feature because it allows students to see how the affixes can be used in a functional context.
You get a lot of variety with Cathy’s product because there’s a list of prefixes/suffixes with meanings, flashcards with each individual affix plus it’s definition, plus an additional set of affix flashcards with examples of words that contain it plus a colorful corresponding visual.
The biggest strength of this tool is that it gives you a solid list of prefixes and suffixes with their definitions and combines them with some tools you could easily use for some engaging extension activities (e.g., prefixes and suffixes worksheets plus BINGO cards).
One last thing I wanted to mention is that this product is listed as being appropriate from 4th, 5th, and 6th graders; however I wouldn’t pass it by if you’re working with students in the early grades.
If you’ve read this research I’ve described here, you know students recognize affixes and their meanings as early as first grade.
With the visuals and games provided in this tool, you could use these with younger students as well and continue to reinforce it through those late elementary/early secondary years.
Knowing that I’m going to cover a 3rd and 4th grade building next year (and some high school students who could use some continued word in this area), this purchase was a no-brainer for me.
Tool #2: The Prefixes and Suffixes Packet by Talkin’ with Twang
Let’s move on to the 24-page Prefixes and Suffixes Packet by Kristin Immicke from Talkin’ with Twang.
The primary benefit of this tool is that it keeps things simple by just focusing on five prefixes and five suffixes.
Kristin nails the quality over quantity concept with this tool because she’s provided in-depth handouts that include affix definitions, examples of two words containing the affixes and their definitions, plus examples of each word used in context. She also includes 40 root words and definitions.
You could easily add on to these handouts by using the format as a model and creating more like it with your students as a therapy activity. This way, you could target other prefixes and suffixes not listed in this packet.
Keep in mind that when we’re targeting morphology (or metalinguistic awareness as a whole), we’re thinking about the process for learning word knowledge, not just content.
We can’t teach our students every single word and word part they need to know, but teaching students a process for studying words and word parts can facilitate independent word learning and build literacy skills (Kirk & Gillon, 2009; Wolter, J. & Dilworth, V, 2013).
If you want to adopt that “do less better” mentality and go deep on the concept of prefixes and suffixes, this Prefixes and Suffixes Packet is a perfect tool for doing that.
I didn’t think twice about buying it and adding it to my materials library.
There’s also a game format, which gives you a staple activity that will be engaging for your students.
The product description says this is appropriate 3rd grade and older.
I agree with that age range; except I’d add that you could try this with 1st and 2nd graders really struggling with grammar and spelling based on some findings that suggest children of these ages are capable of using affix knowledge to learn unfamiliar words.
Tool #3: The Word Study Toolkit for SLPs by Dr. Karen
Last but not least, I’ll talk about my own tool for prefixes and suffixes; called the Word Study Toolkit for SLPs.
This tool goes beyond just prefixes and suffixes because it’s designed to help SLPs build morphological and orthographic knowledge.
It includes: 17 key concepts for building morphology and orthography, 36 prefixes, 36 suffixes, 39 root/bases, 100 multiple meaning words
For each set , you get a word list, plus a set of flashcards with definitions.
For those of you who’ve followed my work for any length of time, you know that most of my resources follow the no-nonsense, no-frills approach.
In other words, they aren’t fancy, but they work.
That’s why this tool is designed to be the ultimate morphology resource that gives you the essentials.
Grabbing the Word Study Toolkit, plus resources that give you engaging extension activities like the Prefixes and Suffixes Unit or the Prefixes and Suffixes Packet offer you a killer combo for delivering effective therapy that builds morphological knowledge.
To get Kristin’s Prefixes and Suffixes Packet you can visit the product page on here TpT store, and to get Cathy’s Prefixes and Suffixes Unit you can visit the TpT product page here.
I’m have no affiliation with either seller, and don’t get any financial incentive for recommending either product. I just like to see SLPs helping other SLPs.
Over 200 flashcards with prefixes, root/base words, suffixes, and multiple meaning words to build strong reading and spelling skills.Word lists with key orthographic concepts, so you have a quick guide to important word parts needed for strong vocabulary skills.Descriptions of 17 key concepts for building morphology/orthography skillsAll flashcards and word lists have definitions, so your students actually remember how words are spelled.BONUS: Video tutorials with a quick-guide for using the toolkit to build reading and spelling skills.>>>Take a peek at what’s inside the toolkit here.
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