We recommend morphology because of lower scores on either phonological awareness or spelling parts of the Talamo assessment. This different approach can often lead to breakthroughs (and can be particularly effective for children with dyslexia). It can be used either with or instead of traditional phonics or spelling instruction and can be used at school or at home. It's also particularly effective in older learners.
What is Morphology?
Morphology is the system of language by which words can be broken up into units of meaning called morphemes. It differs from phonology, which breaks words up into units of sound. A morpheme is the term for any single unit of meaning. It is therefore by definition a root, prefix or suffix.
Understanding morphology helps students break down and make sense of complex words, facilitating better reading and spelling abilities. This is especially beneficial for struggling learners who may find traditional phonics approaches challenging.
Some terminology
Prefixes are the units of meaning (morphemes) placed in front of a root. They are not words in their own right. For example, un-, dis-, sub-.
A root (sometimes referred to as 'base') is a word's purest unit of meaning once prefixes and suffixes are removed. It is the most basic form of a word and can be a word in its own right (but not always).
Suffixes are units of meaning (morphemes) placed at the end of the word. It is not a word in its own right. For example, ed, est, ness.
Improving Spelling Skills
Spelling can be particularly challenging for students, especially when dealing with irregular words or words that don’t follow common phonetic rules. Morphology assists in this area by teaching students about root words, prefixes, and suffixes. For example, understanding that the root word "act" means "to do" can help students spell related words like "action," "react," and "actor" correctly. This systematic approach reduces the cognitive load on memory, allowing students to spell more accurately and confidently.
Enhancing Phonics Instruction
Phonics instruction typically focuses on the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or letter combinations. While this is foundational, incorporating morphology provides an additional layer of understanding. For instance, knowing that the prefix "un-" means "not" or "opposite of" can help students decode words like "unhappy" or "unfinished" more effectively. Morphological knowledge aids in recognising patterns and predicting unfamiliar words' meanings, enhancing overall reading comprehension. However, we recommend this approach mostly when a child hasn't responded well to structured phonics instruction. Normally we'd know this after year 4.
Practical Applications for Teachers
Explicit Instruction
Teach students about common prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
Word Study
Engage students in activities that involve analysing and constructing words using morphological components.
Contextual Learning
Encourage students to use their morphological knowledge in reading and writing tasks across different subjects.
Utilising Resources
Implement programmes like Morph Mastery that provide structured, research-based approaches to teaching morphology.
Morph Mastery: A Morphology Programme
Morph Mastery is an educational programme designed to improve students' morphological awareness. By integrating this programme into regular instruction, teachers can provide targeted support for struggling readers and writers. Morph Mastery offers a range of activities and exercises that help students understand and apply morphological concepts in their reading and writing tasks. As an educator, you can either purchase the book or look at trainings by the author Louise Selby.
For information on how Morph Mastery works, you can check out the below video.