Embracing Literacy 2025 Events

Introduction:

If English spelling feels like a mess of rules and exceptions, this session is here to change your mind. Morphology—the study of word parts like bases, prefixes, and suffixes—reveals the logic behind spelling that phonics alone can’t explain. This isn’t just for older students or advanced readers. From the earliest grades on, morphology helps students understand why words are spelled the way they are. You’ll explore key principles, learn how to use word sums and matrices, and walk away with tools that bring meaning and structure to spelling for every grade level.

Objectives:

• Explain the role of morphology in making sense of English spelling beyond phonics instruction.
• Identify key morphological components, including bases, prefixes, and suffixes, and how they contribute to word meaning and structure.
• Demonstrate how to construct and use word sums and matrices to support students' understanding of spelling patterns.
• Recognize the value of introducing morphological instruction starting in the early grades.
• Apply practical strategies and tools to integrate morphology into classroom instruction across all grade levels.

Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice

• What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
• In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
• How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?