Building Reading Skills

Lesson Overview

Grade: 3rd Grade
Subject: English Language Arts
Time: 40 minutes
Standards Covered: California Common Core State Standards (Grade 3 ELA)

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3a: Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3b: Decode words with common Latin suffixes.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3d: Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

UFLI Component: This lesson follows the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) framework, focusing on systematic, explicit phonics instruction to enhance word reading and spelling.

Objectives

1. Students will identify and understand common prefixes and suffixes.
2. Students will decode multisyllabic words with accuracy.
3. Students will read and recognize grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• UFLI Sound Wall Chart
• Index cards with prefixes (e.g., un-, re-, pre-)
• Index cards with suffixes (e.g., -ful, -less, -ness)
• Grade-level reading passages
• Highlighter pens

Procedure

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Expectations: Welcome the students warmly and explain the day's objectives. Speak briefly about the importance of learning prefixes and suffixes in reading.

2. Sound Wall Review: Direct students’ attention to the UFLI Sound Wall where different phonemes, prefixes, and suffixes are displayed. Quickly review the sounds.

Direct Instruction (10 minutes)

1. Modeling Prefixes and Suffixes: Using the whiteboard, write examples of words with common prefixes (unhappy, redo) and suffixes (happiness, careless). Highlight the prefixes and suffixes in different colours.

2. Teacher Demonstration: Read each example aloud, emphasizing the prefix or suffix. Discuss how they change the meaning of the root word.

3. Identify and Decode: Demonstrate how to decode a challenging word by segmenting it into prefix, root word, and suffix (e.g., ‘kindness’ as ‘kind’ + ‘ness’).

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

1. Group Activity: Divide the class into small groups (5 students per group). Give each group a set of index cards with various prefixes and suffixes.

2. Word Building Game: Instruct each group to form as many words as possible by pairing the index cards with a list of root words you provide. Encourage them to say each word clearly and discuss its meaning.

3. Interactive Discussion: Bring the class back together and have groups share a few of the words they created and their meanings.

Independent Practice (10 minutes)

1. Reading Passages: Distribute grade-level reading passages. Ask students to work individually to read the passages and highlight words containing prefixes and suffixes with their highlighter pens.

2. Reading Circles: As they finish, students form pairs to read the passage aloud to each other, focusing on correctly pronouncing the highlighted words.

Closure (5 minutes)

1. Class Reflection: Lead a short discussion to reflect on what they learned. Ask specific questions like, "What word did you find most interesting today?" or "How did knowing the prefix/suffix help you understand the word?"

2. Revisiting Sound Wall: Return to the Sound Wall and invite a few students to add newly discovered words to the chart.

Assessment

• Informal: Observe students during group activity and reading circles for engagement and correct application of skills.
• Formal: Collect highlighted reading passages to check for understanding and accuracy in identifying words with prefixes and suffixes.

Extension Activities

• Creative Writing: Have students write a short story using a list of words with prefixes and suffixes they learned today.
• Prefix/Suffix Hunt: Assign a homework activity where students look for words with specific prefixes and suffixes in their reading materials at home.

By maintaining a structured yet dynamic approach, this lesson delights and engages students using UFLI strategies while adhering to California educational standards.