Why Learn Greek and Latin Roots?
Some estimate that up to 75% of the English language is derived from Greek and Latin roots. They truly are the "building blocks" of the English language.
Why should you be learning Greek and Latin Roots?
1. Consistency: These roots follow a fairly consistent orthographic pattern. Just as primary teachers utilize the consistency of word families to teach their emergent readers, upper grade and secondary teachers can also rely on the consistency of roots when teaching their students.
2. Effective Intervention: Many English language learners' first language is based on the Latin lexicon (e.g. Spanish). Learning roots connect new English vocabulary to words they may already know in their native language. Research also indicates that struggling (native-Engligh) readers also benefit from the learning Greek and Latin roots.
3. Increased Demands: Each year students in grades 5 and higher encounter around 10,000 new words in their reading! Most of these new words will be of Greek and Latin origin. When students are familiar with highly utilized roots, learning such a vast number of new words becomes so much more manageable.
4. Technical Vocabulary: Content areas such as science and social studies overwhelm students with unfamiliar vocabulary. Fortunately, most of these scientific or scholarly terms are grounded in Greek and Latin origins. If students know the meaning of a root, they are more apt to determine the meaning of an unknown word that uses that root.
- From "Got to Teach" http://www.gottoteach.com
Why should you be learning Greek and Latin Roots?
1. Consistency: These roots follow a fairly consistent orthographic pattern. Just as primary teachers utilize the consistency of word families to teach their emergent readers, upper grade and secondary teachers can also rely on the consistency of roots when teaching their students.
2. Effective Intervention: Many English language learners' first language is based on the Latin lexicon (e.g. Spanish). Learning roots connect new English vocabulary to words they may already know in their native language. Research also indicates that struggling (native-Engligh) readers also benefit from the learning Greek and Latin roots.
3. Increased Demands: Each year students in grades 5 and higher encounter around 10,000 new words in their reading! Most of these new words will be of Greek and Latin origin. When students are familiar with highly utilized roots, learning such a vast number of new words becomes so much more manageable.
4. Technical Vocabulary: Content areas such as science and social studies overwhelm students with unfamiliar vocabulary. Fortunately, most of these scientific or scholarly terms are grounded in Greek and Latin origins. If students know the meaning of a root, they are more apt to determine the meaning of an unknown word that uses that root.
- From "Got to Teach" http://www.gottoteach.com