Prefix Meanings: Unlock the Word
Nine questions on common prefixes such as re-, un-, pre-, mis-, sub-, trans- and dis-, using familiar words to work out meaning.
Think of rewind and redo. What does the prefix re- mean?
Session summary (SOAP)
Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.
Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.
How to run it
Read the two example words aloud and ask what they have in common in meaning, not only in spelling. After the student chooses, ask for a third word with the same prefix. For the last two questions, have the student break the word into parts out loud before choosing. Write the parts on paper if it helps.
Cueing ladder
Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.
- IndependentPresent the item and wait 5 seconds of quiet before helping.Log as correct
- HintGive a clue about the word's category, what it does, or where you find it.Log as cued
- Two choicesOffer two answers, the right one not always second.Log as cued
- ModelGive the answer in a sentence; the student says it back and uses it once more.Log as cued
Adjust it
Use fewer items and start with the ones the student already knows.
Ask for the word in a sentence of the student's own, or a second example from the same group.
Matching IEP goal
Given vocabulary cards, Student will name, sort or define target words in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect cue.
Send it home through the parent portal →About this activity
Nine questions on seven common prefixes. For each, two familiar words such as rewind and redo, or submarine and subway, show what the prefix means, and the student picks the meaning. The last two questions apply that knowledge to new words, prehistoric and misunderstand. Prefixes are one of the most useful word-learning strategies at secondary level, because a handful of them unlock a large share of academic vocabulary.
What to listen for
Watch un- and dis-, which mean the same here, and see whether the student notices. Notice whether the student can generate their own examples, which shows the prefix is understood rather than matched. Words where the prefix letters are not a prefix, such as uncle or reach, are worth discussing if they come up.
Carrying it home
Play prefix hunt with signs, menus or instructions: find a word with re-, un- or pre- and say what it means. Ask your teen to make up a word with a prefix and explain it, such as rewatch or preorder. It keeps word parts in everyday attention.
What's in this activity
- Think of rewind and redo. What does the prefix re- mean?
- again
- not
- before
- Think of unlock and unfair. What does the prefix un- mean?
- again
- not or the opposite of
- under
- Think of preheat and preview. What does the prefix pre- mean?
- after
- too much
- before
- Think of misspell and misplace. What does the prefix mis- mean?
- wrongly
- again
- together
- Think of submarine and subway. What does the prefix sub- mean?
- above
- under or below
- across
- Think of transport and transfer. What does the prefix trans- mean?
- inside
- without
- across
- Think of disagree and dislike. What does the prefix dis- mean?
- not or the opposite of
- twice
- very
- Use what you know. What does prehistoric mean?
- after history
- before written history
- about history
- Use what you know. What does misunderstand mean?
- understand again
- understand before
- understand wrongly
Questions
- Who is this for?
- Students in grades 6 through 10 working on morphology, vocabulary strategies and word-learning skills.
- Is every word that starts with these letters using the prefix?
- No. Words like uncle and reach just start with those letters. Checking whether the rest is a real word helps tell them apart.
- Is it free?
- Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.
Use this board with your caseload
With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.
Track progress freeFree for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.