A big
focus for middle school Language Arts classes is giving students the
opportunity to study and learn new and advanced vocabulary. Having a vast knowledge of vocabulary can
help make reading more enjoyable and make student’s writing more advanced. One of the ways that we address this in the
classroom is by teaching root word study.
We focus on a root for a week or two at a time and try to develop as
many words as possible to go with that root by using numerous prefixes and
suffixes.
At the
beginning of the school year, we spend time focusing on the meanings of various
prefixes and suffixes. Then, we take a
root word, define what the root means, and then add the prefixes and suffixes
we have learned to make new words. We
will complete other activities to practice meaning and usage of these words as
well. As students become comfortable
with this process, they start developing words and recognizing meanings of words
in their reading quickly. Since Language
Arts is very cyclical, we come back to the same prefixes and suffixes again and
again, which makes the learning easier for students that are struggling, while
those that get it right away are able to go on their own to create and identify
words they previously didn’t know with ease.
During
the last two weeks, 7th grade students have been working with the
root word Phobia, which means abnormal fear of. We have looked at prefixes we’ve had earlier
this year, such as zoo- (animal), hydro-(water), and photo- (light), while
adding new prefixes, such as bronto-(thunder), pyro-(fire), and xeno-(alien).
To help
students work on understanding and expand their knowledge and vocabulary, we’ve
completed various activities. Two of
these activities have really been interesting to watch students participate in. The first activity involves students working
with a partner and looking at a compiled list of 1,500 recognized phobias. After reading through this list, they
compiled their own top 20 list of what they would consider to be the worst
phobias to live with every day. After
compiling all of the lists, the number one phobia that the students thought
would make life most difficult was panophobia, the fear of everything.
The
other activity that has been interesting to watch came from a NPR program that
another teacher read about (thank you Rachel McElroy!). Students have chosen either a phobia they
have or one that they find interesting and then they have completed artwork and
writing that go with it. It has been
amazing to see what students have created.
Will Matics
7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
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