Prefix and Suffix Work

I'm back!!!! So I got the dreaded flu over Winter Break and was feeling under the weather pretty much since New Years. I've finally got my groove back (and gotten my work-load under control) and I am ready to start blogging again. I can't believe it's been almost 20 days! I guess sleeping 11 hours a day doesn't allow for much else other than work. Hope most of you avoid it!

So we have been working on prefix and suffix word work since December. As first I wasn't sure how to approach it, but after a few trial and errors I found one strategy for them.

First, I give a few examples of words with the prefix or suffix I am targeting. For example: review, recharge, redo. We as a class define the words and look for what each word have in common. In this set of words we realize that all of these words mean to "do something again." From that I ask the students, what could the prefix "re" mean? Once it has been established that "re" means again, I follow the same routine with another prefix or suffix.

The next step is a word sort. I write base words on index cards and students help me sort the words according to the appropriate prefix or suffix.

Obviously, some words can be put in both categories, but each time we choose where to put the base word we discuss the meaning of the word. Once we have sorted all the words, I ask students to brainstorm more words with the target prefixes and suffixes. Students then do the same activity during literacy centers. I've found that dissecting the words in this active way has really reinforced the concept with the students and they're using the prefixes/suffixes as a strategy during reading.

Anyone else with good ideas for the prefix/suffix concept?