3.3.C
The Standard
identify the meaning of and use words with affixes such as im- into, non-, dis-, in- not, non, pre-, -ness, -y, and -ful
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students break a word into its base word and prefix or suffix. They explain how the added part changes the meaning, then use the new word correctly in speech or writing.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain that preheat means heat beforehand and hopeful means full of hope. The student can infer a new word’s meaning from its parts and use it in a clear sentence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may label the y in play as a suffix even though it is part of the base word. They may assume im- always means not, confuse non- with dis-, or define -ful as an action instead of full of.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Define prepay, dishonest, and joyful by circling each affix and underlining the base word. Then use one word in a sentence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs base-word and affix cards to build words, then have them write each new meaning on sticky notes.
Ask, “How do preheat and nonfat change the meanings of heat and fat?” Students explain in two sentences.
Play Affix Bingo: call a definition, and students cover the matching word, such as hopeful, darkness, or disagree.
Students inspect food packages and school notices for affixed words, then label each base word, affix, and meaning.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 2.3.C
identify the meaning of and use words with affixes un-, re-, -ly, -er, and -est comparative and superlative, and -ion/tion/sion; and
- 5.3.C
identify the meaning of and use words with affixes such as trans-, super-, -ive, and -logy and roots such as geo and photo; and
- 1.3.C
identify the meaning of words with the affixes -s, -ed, and -ing; and
- 4.3.C
determine the meaning of and use words with affixes such as mis-, sub-, -ment, and -ity/ty and roots such as auto, graph, and meter; and
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.