Phonics Lesson 102 Suffix -less/-ful & Lesson 103-105 Prefixes un-, re-, pre-, dis-: June 8 - 12 (Reading Practice Book)

Phonics Lessons - June 8 - 12

We are continuing with our understanding of morphemes this week. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. Morphemes are the word parts that change a word's meaning. A suffix is a morpheme we add to the end of a word. We have covered the suffixes -s, -es, -er, -est, -ly, -ful and -less. This week we are also introducing prefixes to our understanding. 

Lesson 102: Suffix -ful/-less

We already know several suffixes like -s, -es, -er, est and ly. This week we learned about the two suffixes -ful and -less. 

-less: The suffix -less has a schwa sound with it sounded more like lis, like in the word sleepless. The suffix - less means without. So in sleepless, the suffix -less means without sleep. Other examples are helpless, endless and hopeless.

-ful: The suffix -ful means full of like in the word helpful. Helpful means full of help. If a person is being helpful, they are giving a lot of help to you. 

In this week's text called, A Dreadful, Stormy Day, students are looking for words that have the -less or -ful suffix on words. They are looking to highlight (the whole word that has that spelling pattern). Students are also asked to illustrate the story to demonstrate their understanding of the text.

Combined Lessons 103-105: Prefixes un-, re-, pre-, dis- 

Morphemes that are added to the beginning of a word are called prefixes. This week we introduced several prefixes: 

un -: The prefix un- can have two meanings. un- means not or opposite. So unhappy means not happy or not in a good mood. In some words in means the opposite like in the words unzip. Zip means close but then unzip means the opposite where I can unzip my backpack open. Other examples are unkind, untie, unreal and uncover. 

pre-: This prefix means before like in the word preview. The word preview means watch or view before. We watch previews of movies before watching the whole movie. Other examples are preheat, premade and prewash.

re-: This prefix means again or back like in the word redo. The word means to do again. I can redo my work or redo the laces on my show. Other examples are refill, rerun, retell, return and rewind. 

In this week's text called, Unlucky, students are looking for words that have the prefix un-. They are looking to highlight (the whole word that has that spelling pattern). Students are also asked to illustrate the story to demonstrate their understanding of the text. 

We will be working through the rest of the stories that focus on the other prefixes (re-, pre- and dis-) next week to wrap up our phonics learning for this school year.  

Heart (Irregular) Words of the Week

Heart words are words that do not decode or follow the spelling rules that we have been learning. We have to know them by 'heart'. However, once we learn more spelling rules, they may be only temporary heart words and the rules will come along later! In the meantime, we have been focusing on reviewing and learning the words below with focused in class practice. These will eventually (if not already) be on spelling word lists or word rings. 

This week we are reviewing:

• answer
• honest
• honour

This week's new words:

• truth
• truly

Fluency Grids
With each lesson, there is a fluency grid with the lesson focus that is intended to help students recognize the phonics rule and assist in reading it with accuracy and automaticity. At home, challenge your young reader to read the word (aim is to decode/read each word within 3 seconds) and then recall it each time they see it within the grid of mixed up, repeated words. A couple minutes of practice is all they need. This acts as a warm up before reading the text that also applies the same skill while building on all the previous skills as well. Each week we are building on the previous week to become more fluent readers so we can focus on what the text is sharing rather than spending all the time decoding the words.

Homework Reminders
Students have been working on the story or stories in their Reading Practice book this week that will come home each weekend. At school, they work with a partner to complete their fluency grid, read with someone their story and highlight the focus words. Following, they are illustrating a picture for the text to show their understanding. 

At home, students are to finish the above tasks and read to an expert the week's lesson(s). After completing, parents are to initial at the indicated spot at the top. 

This week, we are have completed two lessons so there will be two stories to complete in their white Reading Practice booklet after the clip. Please see the information letter in the front of the book for more, detailed information about this weekend practice book coming home. Please return on Monday (or Tuesday if there is a no school day on Monday).

Happy reading!