The Derivational Relations Stage

Base Words: Words that stand on their own after all prefixes and suffixes have been removed.

Word Roots: What remains after all prefixes and suffixes have been removed but it is not a word (230).

Derivational Stage: Spelling & vocabulary knowledge acquisition through the process of derivation from a single base word or word root. A number of related words are derived through the addition of prefixes and suffixes (249).

Spelling / Meaning Connection – Words that are related in spelling are often related in meaning as well (250).

Compisition (?) Think of Compose… Composition (!)

Consonant / Vowel Alternation – Spelling remains the same in related word despite an alteration in the sound (253).

Sign Signal

Nature Natural

Predictable Spelling Changes in Vowels & Consonants – Still predictable although sound and spelling change (256).

Confident Confidence

Attendant Attendance

Greek and Latin Elements – Knowing the Greek/Latin root will also help with spelling (257).

Chron (time) Chronic (Greek)

Spect (to look) Spectacle (Latin)

Advanced Suffix Study If the suffix is attached to a “base word,” it’s usually “able,”

(260-261 & 282-283) If the suffix is attached to a “word root,” it’s usually “ible”

Dependable (Depend) Credible (Cred)

Absorbed Prefixes – The spelling of prefixes may change to assimilate the first letter of the base word or word root (262).

Ad + tract à adtract à attract

In + mobile à immobile à immobile

In + literate à inliterate à illiterate

Word Origins (Etymology) – Understanding the origin of a word may provide a key to knowing its spelling (263).

a la carte bistro

Three Basic Things To Have Access To In Your Classroom (264)

• Intermediate and college dictionaries: enough for six to eight students to work in a small group.
• Thesaurus collection: enough for six to eight students to work in a small group.
• Several word history (etymological) dictionaries and root books (259)

Does it end in -sion or –tion? - Consider the base word or word root (268).

Affect – Affection Convulse - Convulsion