The Best Thing You Need to Teach Suffix S

A suffix s poster sits on a board. Text above reads: the best thing you need about suffix s. — I found the absolute best strategy for teaching suffix s. This one strategy almost immediately had my students using s instead of z for words like “bugs” or “lids”.

When I entered First Grade after teaching Kindergarten for a few years I was excitedly nervous. While I had some experience with the next level of skills due to the skills of previous students, there were a few areas I could grow my practice in. When I found out I had to teach suffixes my first thought was: what is a SUFFIX?! Growing up in peak workshop model lessons, I needed more phonics knowledge prior to becoming a teacher. So, after some digging, I found the absolute best strategy for teaching suffix s. This one strategy almost immediately had my students using s instead of z for words like “bugs” or “lids”. I can’t wait to share it with you! No time to read through? Bookmark it for later, or grab these research-backed activities and start improving your student’s knowledge of suffix s today!

Teaching suffix s in Small Groups

It doesn’t matter if you are teaching suffixes or double-digit multiplication one fact remains true: students benefit most from personalized instruction delivered in a small group. Time and time again, research has shown that students demonstrate more growth when meaningful instruction is delivered in a small group setting. Grab your VIP Guide to effective K-2 small groups and learn the most effective, research-backed strategies for your small group instruction

What Is A Suffix?

Suffixes are a crucial component of word formation. They are affixes that are added to the end of a base or root word to create new words or change the meaning of existing words. Suffixes play a vital role in expanding our vocabulary and expressing a wide range of ideas and concepts. They can alter the grammatical category of a word, such as changing a noun to a verb or an adjective to an adverb. Additionally, suffixes can convey nuances of meaning, such as indicating the degree of something or expressing a particular quality or characteristic. Suffixes can be a little overwhelming, learn how to differentiate teaching suffixes or other skills with these simple, yet effective, strategies.

A suffix s book sits with magnet tiles below. Text above reads: the best thing you need to teach suffix s. — I found the absolute best strategy for teaching suffix s. This one strategy almost immediately had my students using s instead of z for words like “bugs” or “lids”.

Understanding suffixes is essential for effective communication and language comprehension. By recognizing and interpreting suffixes, we can grasp the intended meaning of words more accurately, decipher unfamiliar terms, and construct sentences with precision. Suffixes offer us a powerful tool to convey our thoughts and ideas more precisely, ensuring that our messages are clear and impactful. With their ability to transform words and convey subtle shades of meaning, suffixes are a valuable asset in spoken and written language.

Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

Suffixes come in a wide variety of forms, each with its unique meaning and function. Let’s explore some of the most common suffixes and their meanings:

The Suffix -ly:

This suffix is commonly used to form adverbs from adjectives. For example, “quickly” is formed by adding -ly to the adjective “quick,” indicating the manner in which an action is performed.

-Less:

Adding -less to a noun or adjective creates a new word that means “without” or “lacking.” For instance, “careless” means “without care” or “not paying attention.”

The Ending -tion:

This suffix is commonly used to form nouns from verbs, indicating an action, process, or state. For example, “celebration” is derived from the verb “celebrate” and signifies the act of celebrating.

These are just a few examples of the many suffixes that exist in the English language. Each suffix brings its own unique meaning and adds depth and nuance to words, allowing us to express ourselves with precision and creativity.

Game-Changing Knowledge About Sounds

As an avid reader who picked up reading easily, I never thought about sounds that much. My spelling ability matches my lack of letter-sound knowledge. Regardless, I knew if I wanted to teach suffix-s effectively I needed to know the reasons behind the sound of suffix s.

A suffix sorting worksheet sits below text that reads: each student learns suffixes differently. — Teaching suffix s explicitly and intentionally is one small step every teacher can take to ensure their students are creating a strong foundation of literacy skills.

Almost all of the English language follows a set of rules that can be learned and applied to increase accuracy when reading and writing. This is true when teaching suffix s. It turns out some sounds use your voice and some sounds are quiet. Hold your hand to your throat and say the /p/ sound. Your voice is off. Now, keep your hand on your throat and say the /g/ sound. Your voice is on!

The sound of suffix s is determined by if the preceding sound is voiced or unvoiced. Wild, right? This one fact of information can lead to so many discoveries with letters and sounds. By explicitly teaching the voiced and unvoiced sounds, students are creating a solid foundation for higher-level phonetic abilities. These activities are phonics based and sequential to ensure students have a strong foundation of letter sounds to build upon when learning the suffix s.

Suffix s posters sit below letter tiles. Text above reads: keep it simple when teaching suffix s. — By explicitly teaching the voiced and unvoiced sounds, students are creating a solid foundation for higher-level phonetic abilities. These activities are phonics based and sequential to ensure students have a strong foundation of letter sounds to build upon when learning the suffix s.

Why Do You Need to Explicitly Teach Suffix S?

As with most skills, research shows the more specific you can be when teaching a skill the greater success your students will have. Even your more advanced students who seemingly may just “get” suffixes when reading often will have a hard time applying it to their writing. The suffix s can often trick younger students because it makes different sounds. Occasionally it will say /z/, and occasionally it will say /s/. When students explicitly learn the reason behind the sound change they are more likely to write it correctly the first time, or, self-correct if an error is made. These week long lessons and activities will ensure your students have systemic

Suffix s worksheets sit behind text that says: suffixes play a vital role in expressing our ideas. — Almost all of the English language follows a set of rules that can be learned and applied to increase accuracy when reading and writing.

Teaching Spelling Suffixes

To be effective when teaching spelling suffixes, be sure to go in with a plan. Start by reviewing voiced and unvoiced sounds (or by teaching it if your students haven’t explored that yet!). Once your students have working knowledge of voiced and unvoiced sounds, introduce the suffix s and its purpose: to show multiple items or an action.

Use this book to have students understand the meaning of the suffix s and when it is used. Here students will read and write words with the suffix s learning about actions and multiples!

Classroom lessons plans to teach suffixes sit under text that reads: use explicit and strategic plans to teach suffix s. — Suffixes can open the door to new vocabulary and meaning. When teaching suffix s, try to keep it simple. Focus on one component of the suffix at a time.

Teaching suffix s to Students

Suffixes can feel overwhelming to students, but the stronger foundation they build the more successful students will feel when learning more advanced suffixes later on. Suffixes can open the door to new vocabulary and meaning. When teaching suffix s, try to keep it simple. Focus on one component of the suffix at a time. You may choose to review voiced and unvoiced sounds first, then move into the meaning of a suffix, and finally the two sounds of suffix s. Typically, students will master reading the suffix ending before they master writing it. It is important to practice both reading and writing suffixes because the more experience students have with suffix endings, the more comfortable they will become using them.

Suffix Worksheet Second Grade

Finding a suffix s worksheet engaging for second grade can be so challenging! These activities vary from introductory to advanced including both reading and writing for students to practice suffixes in a variety of ways. From word cards to decodable passages, sentences, and more grab these suffix s activities now and start working on suffixes with your students today.

A suffix word card activity sits beneath text that reads: there are specific rules that determine how to say the ending suffix sounds. — Suffixes can open the door to new vocabulary and meaning. When teaching suffix s, try to keep it simple. Focus on one component of the suffix at a time.

Making Suffix S Fun

Some kids will love reading, others not so much. I firmly believe that while not every student needs to love reading, every student must know how to read. Teaching suffix s explicitly and intentionally is one small step every teacher can take to ensure their students are creating a strong foundation of literacy skills.