As our kids get older, we forget the importance vocabulary has on reading and comprehension. It is important not to forget the vocabulary for high school students because vocabulary can be crucial to them understanding and thus doing well on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), any test and reading in general. A good place to start is with greek and latin roots words.
Why study greek and latin roots? It is important to study greek and latin roots
because the english language is based almost entirely on greek and latin roots so when you know a root word you will be able to learn or understand new vocabulary words much easier such as the words your child might encounter while taking the SAT, reading or taking a test.
because the english language is based almost entirely on greek and latin roots so when you know a root word you will be able to learn or understand new vocabulary words much easier such as the words your child might encounter while taking the SAT, reading or taking a test.
Since I am not studying for the SAT, I am going to give you a simplistic example of what I mean by you being able to learn or understand multiple words by studying root words using the root re- or red-. It is the latin prefix which means back, again. Once, your child knows this root and if he sees words beginning with re- or red- he will be able to understand its meaning. For example, let's look at the following words: recede, repel, reproach, recant or reduction.
Word
|
Meaning
|
recede
|
go or move back or further away from a previous position
|
repel
|
drive or force (an attack or attacker) back or away
|
reproach
|
the expression of disapproval or disappointment
|
recant
|
say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, esp. one considered heretical
|
reduction
|
the act of making something smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
|
When you look at the chart (see above), notice how each word’s definition has either again or back in the meaning? This proves the point that if the student knows greek or latin roots he will be able to figure out the meaning of words which are foreign or new to him. The words I used here for illustrative purposes are just the tip of the iceberg for the amount words that can be formed using the re- or red-.
Moreover, the context clues received from the words surrounding the root word will increase or improve the chances that he will understand or accurately interpret the meaning of the word accurately.
Moreover, the context clues received from the words surrounding the root word will increase or improve the chances that he will understand or accurately interpret the meaning of the word accurately.
Finally, it is important not to forget to teach high school students vocabulary especially greek and latin roots so he can a better understanding of words even if they are unfamiliar. I have used the book Red Hot Root Words Book 1: Mastering Vocabulary with Prefixes, Suffixes and Root Words to learn root words regardless of the grade level it is written for you still get the benefits of broading his vocabulary which is the point.
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Resources:
List of Greek words with English derivatives
