Simple Ways to Teach Greek and Latin Root Words

The vast majority of the English language is derived from Greek and Latin root words. Some estimate that up to 75% of our language comes from the Greek and Latin language. That statistic alone is a compelling reason to incorporate more practice with Greek and Latin root words into your literacy block!

If you need some fresh ideas on how to work Greek and Latin root words into your school year, I have four simple ideas that will help you bring more focus to this very important vocabulary concept.

Greek and Latin Root Word Teaching Ideas

1. Start a Root of the Week vocabulary routine.

Introducing a root word of the week is a great way to create an entire routine around this important skill. One way you could do this is to simply select a single root to focus on each week. Like spec/spect, hydra, phon, auto, etc. Throughout the week you can do a different activity each day that will help student familiarize themselves with the meaning of the root.

Here’s a list of things you could have students do during the week to help study the root of the week:

• Look up the origin of the word.
• Make a word list with other words with the same root.
• Create a symbol to help then remember the word.
• Find words that have that root and break them into their word parts.
• Read focused sentences/paragraphs with the root.
• Write sentences with words from the word list.

If you like the idea of using a root word of the week routine in your classroom, be sure to check out this resource.

2. Use Anchor Charts to introduce new root words.

We all know the power of anchor charts! They serve as a great visual reminder for students. Which is why I love introducing root words using anchor charts. Whether you create a large-scale anchor chart to post on your classroom walls or give your students mini anchor charts to glue in their journals, they can be a great tool to help introduce and teach new root words.

Here are a few things that I think are helpful to include on your greek and latin root word anchor charts:

• The root word(s) – you can make an anchor chart for just one word or several at a time.
• The definnition of the word.
• A visual cue or picture reminder to help students remember the meaning of the root.
• Words that contain that root that are broken down by word part, but then also explain the meaning of each part. (If you see the sample anchor charts in the picture, you’ll see what I mean).

Anchor charts can be a really great way to go in depth when studying Greek and Latin root words.

3. Give students a root word reference sheet to use during independent practice.

The ultimate goal of teaching Greek and Latin root words is to help students have confindence in their ability to understand them when they area reading. Even if you haven’t taught your students ALL of the root words, giving them a reference sheet can be really helpful.

Once students get the basic idea that word parts (like greek and latin roots) have meaning, and if they know the meaning of those word parts, they can use them to figure out and understand new words. Students can use a reference sheet during independent practice to help them when it comes to using context clues to figre out the meaning of new or unfamiliar words that might contain a Greek and Latin root.

If you haven’t already, be sure to grab the free root word reference sheet. I know it will be helpful for your students!

4. Create a Greek and Latin Word Wall in your classroom for students to reference.

Creating a word wall display in your classroom with common greek and latin roots can be a great way to keep these roots top of mind. Even if students have their own individual sheets, seeing a word wall with the root, the meaning, sample words, and a picture clue can be another helpful tool to hlep students remember all the roots.

If you’ve never used a word wall in your upper elementary classroom, you can get some ideas for how to use them in THIS blog post.

AND if you make your word wall cards right (see picture above) you can also end up with an interactive word wall or interactive sort that students can do independently to help them build their understanding of greek and latin root words.

Check out these interactive word wall cards and sorts if you want some that are all prepped and ready for you to use.

5. Play games to review Greek and Latin root words you’ve already taught.

Any new skill that you are trying to reinforce is always more fun when it’s turned into a game! Creating a bingo game about greek and latin root words is a great way to get students thinking more critically about the meaning of the roots they have learned, but have fun doing it!

Playing games can be a really fun way to spiral review as well. If you end up doing a root word of the week routine, your students might have forgotten the Greek and Latin root words they learned in the fall – or at least they might be a little bit fuzzy.

Using these teaching ideas, your students will deepen their understanding of Greek and Latin roots. This is an area that has a positive growth affect on all other areas of students’ reading and writing!

Put it into practice…

Ok, hopefully these ideas are all simple enough that you feel like you can get started with some of them this week. If you are new to teaching Greek and Latin Roots to your students, then I would suggest checking out the Root Word of the Week routine in my TPT store. It is a super simple (teacher-and-student-friendly) routine to get started with and it has a huge impact on your students understanding of root words.

Go check out that resource and then put it in your lesson plans for next week!

And before you go, be sure to grab the free Greek and Latin Root Word Reference Sheet below. Once you get started with the root word of the week routine, you can share that reference sheet with your students for them to refer to when reading independently.

Happy Teaching!

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