Kentucky Reading and Writing L.6.4.b

ELA6th GradeLanguage

The Standard

L.6.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

Use Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students break unfamiliar words into Greek and Latin parts to make a first guess about meaning. They check that guess against the sentence.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student uses port, meaning carry, and -able to explain that a portable stove can be carried. They use the sentence to check that meaning.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think port always means a harbor or that tele means phone, not far. Some read portable as “able to carry things” rather than “able to be carried.”
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: In “The camper packed a portable stove,” define portable using port and -able. Then explain telescope using tele and scope.

Lesson moves

Give pairs cards labeled trans, port, tele, and scope; have them build transport and telescope, then draw what each word describes.
Ask students to write: In “A spectator watched the race,” how does spect help you figure out spectator?
Play root match: students pair bio, geo, and graph with life, earth, and writing, then use the pairs to define biography and geography.
Show students a portable charger and ask what port tells them about how people use it.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to L.6.4.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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