MORPHEME MATRICES
Standalone Lessons for Word Assembly
By Marn Frank, Literacy & STAR Coordinator
[email protected]
ATLAS @ Hamline University
January 2017
Morpheme Matrix Introduction
Phonemes are single units of sound (consonants and vowels) that are combined into short
words. Beginning-level readers (GE K-3) typically need to learn the 45 English phonemes or
sounds, their corresponding graphemes or letters, and how to blend and segment them for
reading and spelling.
Morphemes are small units of meaning (prefixes, roots, suffixes) that are combined into longer
words. Intermediate-level readers (GE 4-8) are usually ready to learn a variety of morphemes,
how to blend and segment them for reading and spelling, and identify changes in meaning,
number, tense, or part of speech. Some roots can stand ‘freely’ on their own as meaningful
words, be joined to form compounds, or be combined with prefixes and suffixes. Other roots
must be combined or ‘bound’ with prefixes and suffixes to form longer, meaningful words.
In a recent COABE Journal article, Morphological Awareness Intervention: Improving Spelling,
Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension for Adult Learners (Bangs & Binder, 2016), the
authors concluded from a pilot study with ABE students at Basic to GED levels that instruction
of morphemes and use of word sums or matrices to build longer words can produce
reciprocal gains in phoneme awareness and related gains in spelling, vocabulary, and even
comprehension skills (pages 52-53).
In the book, Unlocking Literacy, Effective Decoding & Spelling Instruction (Henry, 2010), the
author recommends introducing morphemes sooner rather than later. She says students do
not need to have complete mastery of English letter-sound patterns (especially of vowel
teams) to begin combining high-frequency roots with common prefixes and suffixes. She
believes teaching a variety of morphemes gives advancing readers “the power of word
expansion” (page 97).
This reproducible resource includes: (1) a simple morpheme matrix organization for word
building or assembly, (2) detailed steps for systematic and explicit instruction and use, (3) a
reference chart of common prefixes, suffixes, and their changes or meanings, (4) a sequential
series of 10 standalone matrices for combining free and bound Latin roots with common
prefixes and suffixes, (5) a Word Key of morphological families for teacher preparation or
checking, (6) a blank morpheme matrix, and (7) References or Resources.
It was developed for reading teachers who…
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Work with ABE/ESL students ready to move beyond phonics and simple words
Regularly deal with irregular or inconsistent student attendance
Provide alphabetics instruction individually, in small groups, or with their entire class
Can only offer alphabetics instruction once a week
Seek a new or different approach to teaching multi-syllable decoding and spelling
All questions, comments, or corrections should be directed to [email protected]
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Morpheme Matrix Organization
The morpheme matrices on pages 4-13 are ordered according to a logical sequence of Latin
roots recommended by Marcia Henry. They all use a similar organization to the matrix below.
Longer words are always assembled from left to right: prefixes + root (free and bound), root
(free only) + suffixes, and prefixes + root (free and bound) + suffixes. See page 3 for the prefixsuffix reference chart and page 14 for the Word Key – spellchecked by MS Word.
Common prefixes
to add that
change meaning
Less common
prefixes to add
that change
meaning
Latin root
(1-2 forms)
“Simple meaning”
free and/or bound
Very common
inflectional suffixes to
add that change
number or tense
Common derivational
suffixes to possibly add
that change part of
speech and meaning
Explicit Instruction
(adapt language or steps as needed)
1. Explanation: “There are many longer words in newspapers, magazines, community or
workplace handouts, GED or adult diploma books, and on the internet. They are made
up of parts called morphemes. We will use graphic organizers to combine (or assemble)
common morphemes (or parts) from left to right into longer words. By the end of each
lesson, you will spell, read, and know 20+ new words!”
2. Model the root pronunciation and read its simple meaning.
3. Review the 3-5 prefix pronunciations and their meanings (see page 3).
4. For free and bound roots, model adding all prefixes (see the Word Key for guidance).
Say each prefixed word several times and discuss changes in meaning.
5. Guide students in spelling and reading the new words on the lines.
6. Review the 5-8 suffix pronunciations and their meanings (see page 3).
7. For free roots only, model adding all inflectional and most-some derivational suffixes
(see the Word Key for guidance). Say each suffixed word several times, discuss
changes, and guide students in spelling and reading the new words on the lines.
8. For free and bound roots, go back to the prefixed words and model adding all
inflectional and most-some derivational suffixes (see the Word Key for guidance). Say
each prefixed-suffixed word several times, discuss changes, and guide students in
spelling and reading the new words on the lines. Important Notes: There may be more
or less than 24 words in the Word Keys. Teachers can decide how many prefixes,
suffixes, and longer words are manageable for their students.
9. Have students reread all combined (or assembled) New Words (orally or silently).
10. Have students write and read A Few Sentences using some of the new words.
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Common Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefix Spellings
in*, im
un
mis
dis*
re*
de
pre
en, em
sub
inter
Meaning Changes
in, into, or toward
not or opposite of
bad or wrong
not or apart
again or back
down or away from
before or earlier
put into or onto
below or under
between
*occur in more than 58% of 3000 words in textbooks at GE 3-9
Suffix Spellings
s, es*
ed*
ing*
ly
er, or
ion, tion, ation
able, ible
al, ial
y
ive
Grammar or Meaning Changes
plural noun or singular verb
past-tense verb
present-tense verb
like or in the manner of (adverb)
someone who… (noun)
act or state of (noun)
able or can be done (adjective)
relating to (adjective)
marked by (adjective)
causing or making (adjective)
*inflectional and found in 65% of more than 2000 suffixed words
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Morpheme Matrix 1
in
re
de
form
“to shape”
free
s
ed
ing
er
ation
al
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
4
Morpheme Matrix 2
im
re
de
port
“to carry”
free
s
ed
ing
er
ion, ation
able
al
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
5
Morpheme Matrix 3
dis
inter
e (out)
rupt
“to break or burst”
bound
s
ed
ing
er
tion
ible
ive
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
6
Morpheme Matrix 4
dis
re
de
sub
tract
“to draw or pull”
free
s
ed
ing
or
ion
ible, able
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
7
Morpheme Matrix 5
in
de
pre
sub
scrib or script*
“to write”
bound and free*
s
ed
ing
er
ion
able
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
8
Morpheme Matrix 6
in
re
sus (under)
spect
“to see, watch or
observe”
bound
s
ed
ing
er, or
ion
able
ive
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
9
Morpheme Matrix 7
in
de
con (together or
with)
struct
“to build”
bound
s
ed
ing
or
ion
ive
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
10
Morpheme Matrix 8
in
re
de
flect or flex*
“to bend or curve”
bound and free*
s, es
ed
ing
or
ion
ive
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
11
Morpheme Matrix 9
in
pre
inter
dict
“to say or tell”
bound
s
ed
ing
ion
able
ive
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
12
Morpheme Matrix 10
in
re
de
pre
fer
“to bear or yield”
bound
trans (across)
s
ed
ing
able
al
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
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Word Key
*note vowel or consonant changes
Matrix 1: inform, reform, deform, forms, formed, forming, former, formation, formal, informs,
informed, informing, informer, information, informal, reforms, reformed, reforming, reformer,
reformation, deforms, deformed, deforming, deformer, deformation
Matrix 2: import, report, deport, ports, ported, porting, porter, portion, portable, portal, imports,
imported, importing, importer, importation, importable, reports, reported, reporting, reporter,
reportable, deports, deported, deporting, deportation, deportable
Matrix 3: disrupt, interrupt, erupt, disrupts, disrupted, disrupting, disrupter, disruption, disruptive,
interrupts, interrupted, interrupting, interrupter, interruption, interruptible, interruptive, erupts,
erupted, erupting, eruption, eruptible, eruptive
Matrix 4: distract, retract, detract, subtract, tracts, tractor, traction, tractable, distracts,
distracted, distracting, distractor, distraction, distractible, retracts, retracted, retracting,
retractor, retraction, retractable, detracts, detracted, detracting, detractor, detraction,
subtracts, subtracted, subtraction, subtraction
Matrix 5: inscribe*, describe*, prescribe*, subscribe*, scripts, scripted, scripting, scripter,
inscribes*, inscribed*, inscribing, inscriber, inscription, describes*, described*, describing,
describer, description, descriptive, prescribes*, prescribed*, prescribing, prescription,
prescriptive, subscribes*, subscribed*, subscribing, subscriber, subscription
Matrix 6: inspect, respect, suspect, inspects, inspected, inspecting, inspector, inspection,
respects, respected, respecting, respectable, respective, suspects, suspected, suspecting,
suspicion*
Matrix 7: instruct, destruct, construct, instructs, instructed, instructing, instructor, instruction,
instructive, destructs, destructed, destructing, destructor, destruction, destructive, constructs,
constructed, constructing, constructor, construction, constructive
Matrix 8: inflect, reflect, deflect, flexes, flexed, flexing, flexor, flexion, inflects, inflected,
inflecting, inflection, inflective, reflects, reflected, reflecting, reflector, reflection, reflective,
deflects, deflected, deflector, deflection, deflective
Matrix 9: indict, predict, interdict, diction, indicts, indicted, indicting, indictable, indicative,
predicts, predicted, predicting, prediction, predictable, predictive, interdicts, interdicted,
interdicting, interdiction
Matrix 10: infer, refer, defer, prefer, transfer, infers, inferred*, inferring*, inferable, referred*,
referring*, referable, referral*, defers, deferred*, deferring*, deferrable, prefers, preferred*,
preferring*, preferable, transfers, transferred*, transferring*, transferable, transferal
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Morpheme Matrix
New Words:
1. ____________________
13. ____________________
2. ____________________
14. ____________________
3. ____________________
15. ____________________
4. ____________________
16. ____________________
5. ____________________
17. ____________________
6. ____________________
18. ____________________
7. ____________________
19. ____________________
8. ____________________
20. ____________________
9. ____________________
21. ___________________
10. ____________________
22. ____________________
11. ____________________
23. ____________________
12. ____________________
24. ____________________
A Few Sentences:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________
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References and Resources
Bangs, K. E. & Binder, K. S. (2016) Morphological awareness intervention: improving spelling,
vocabulary, and reading comprehension for adult learners. Journal of Research and Practice
for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education, Volume 5, pages 49-56.
Henry, M. K. (2010). Unlocking Literacy, Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction, 2nd Edition.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company. Baltimore, MD.
Online Etymology Dictionary at http://www.etymonline.com/ provides free explanations of
English words, their meanings and history across hundreds of years, and extensive lists or
related words or word families.
Word Building and Spelling Experiments in English Morphology at
http://www.neilramsden.co.uk/spelling/index.html provides free tools for analyzing words,
creating word sums, building word families, or making word (or morpheme) matrices.
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