Professional Documents
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Buddingh, Melissa - Spring - 2009
Buddingh, Melissa - Spring - 2009
Melissa Buddingh
B.A., University of California, Davis, 2005
THESIS
MASTER OF ARTS
in
EDUCATION
and Instruction)
(Curriculum
at
SPRING
2009
THE EFFECTS OF TEACHING ROOTS AND AFFIXES ON THE VOCABULARY
DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS
A Thesis
by
Melissa Buddingh
Ap roved by:
-, Committee Chair
Rita JohnAn /1
, Second Reader
ZdhAiah Davis
Date
.
Student: Melissa Buddingh
I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the
University format manual, and that this thesis is suitable for shelving in the Library
and credit is to be awarded for the thesis.
iii
Abstract
of
by
Melissa Buddingh
Statement ofProblem
Recent STAR testing results show that California students are not performing
have difficulty with the plethora of unfamiliar vocabulary words found in such
examinations, as well as in their regular schoolwork. Since these students have to pass
the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to graduate from high school, they
need to be taught strategies that will assist them in decoding and comprehending
foreign vocabulary words. The skills they learn in K-12 education will help students
Sources of Data
research of the pertinent and relevant literature. Other data was collected through the
Results of a pre and posttest suggested students who were given explicit
instruction in roots and affixes performed better than those who did not receive
explicit instruction. Results also showed students responded well to games and
Date
v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Dr. Rita Johnson for her commitment to excellence in the
other professors who work with such incredible energy, enthusiasm, and efficiency.
I would like to thank Dr. Frank Lilly, who revised my thesis multiple times and
gave me advice regarding how to improve both the content and technical issues in my
Review of Literature.
keep me on schedule. I would especially like to thank Jenna Elam, who encouraged
I would like to thank my friends and family, who put up with my hibernation
for nearly one year as I tried to finish this thesis while working full time teaching
seventh grade.
encourager during this process. I'm particularly thankful for his prayers during the
difficult times and for helping me with the statistics portion of my fourth chapter.
Psalm 126:3
Vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Acknowledgments....................................................................................................... vi
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1
Constructivism ......................................... 10
vii
Importance of Teaching Roots and Affixes ................................................... 15
M otivation...................................................................................................... 24
Summary........................................................................................................ 27
3. METHODOLOGY............................................................................................... 29
Setting............................................................................................................ 29
Participants..................................................................................................... 30
Instrum ents..................................................................................................... 31
Research Design............................................................................................. 31
Data Analysis................................................................................................. 34
4. DATA ....................................................... 35
Sum mary........................................................................................................ 39
Sum mary........................................................................................................ 40
Conclusions.................................................................................................... 41
Concerns......................................................................................................... 42
viii
Appendix A. Consent Letter ................................ 45
References.................................................................................................................. 73
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Page
6. Lesson Plans................................................................................................... 33
7. Results............................................................................................................ 36
x
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
xi
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Statement of Problem
Semantics, or the knowledge of the meaning of words, is one of the most basic
vocabulary words is essential in every grade level, subject area and assessment. When
a student lacks knowledge of important vocabulary words, the student will struggle in,
and perhaps fail, grade level subject area assessments. In today's world of high stakes
testing, students must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) exam to
graduate high school. If students wish to go on to higher level education, they will
Additionally, the student with limited vocabulary knowledge will struggle to function
public schools have a daunting challenge to meet. The well-populated state hosts an
extremely diverse population of students in terms of race, language and ability level.
2
Students are required to meet very high academic standards, and many struggle to
catch up with the other students in their grade levels. Teachers must work hard to find
strategies to help the struggling students' progress as quickly as possible. To the extent
that they are able, teachers should research the best strategies to help their struggling
words. Although a variety of methods can be employed to teach students new words,
one way teachers can assist students in learning new words is by teaching them the
meanings of common roots and affixes. This knowledge is important because words
that use roots and affixes are used across many subjects. For example, the prefix 'tri'
means 'three.' In science, a student might learn about genetics in relation to a set of
'triplets.' In mathematics, a student may learn that a triangle has three sides. In
history, a student may come across the word triton in relationship to Greek mythology.
In art, a student could be asked to design a tri-fold. In English, a student may come
across a myriad of other words that utilize the knowledge of the root 'tri'.
Additionally, roots and affixes are often cognates, which mean they mean the same
thing in different languages. There are many root and affix cognates between the
languages of Latin, Spanish, French, English, Italian, and Dutch. This could be a
particularly useful tool for English learners who have at least some language
knowledge in their heritage language, because they could then transfer their
which determines whether or not they will fail or succeed academically. Many of
California's students are currently only performing at a "basic" or "below basic" level,
and these students are falling farther and farther behind their peers. At the middle
school level, the setting of this research, vocabulary development becomes extremely
important. In elementary school, smaller class sizes allow teachers to work on a more
individual level with students, which changes in middle school as teachers have larger
Constructivism formed the basis for research and teaching strategies. Dewey's
assessments.
The study is limited in scope and sequence by its location in a suburban middle
school in Northern California. Research results from this study may not be
generalizable to other populations. Further studies with different groups will help
inform the topic. Additionally, the sample size was relatively small, so any
achievement as opposed to teaching strategy. All possible efforts were made to ensure
Definition of Terms
standardized test scores, grade point average, dropout rates, and college-enrollment
and rates.
Affix: A meaningful letter or group of words that can be added to a root word
to alter meaning either at the beginning of the word (prefix) or the end of the word
(suffix).
appropriate words, can employ synonyms and antonyms effectively, and can decode
words using taught strategies. Students with rich vocabularies are able to read higher-
level vocabulary words and also use them in their personal writing endeavors.
Root word: The meaningful base form of a complex word after all affixes are
re-moved.
Underperforming:A term referring to students who are not meeting grade level
benchmarks and standards. Criteria may include: STAR tests, district benchmarks,
and other statistics relevant to the need for literacy in the 2 1 st century, a list of the
student learning.
Chapter 4 includes the results and findings along with analyses and
interpretations.
The final section includes an Appendix with ancillary materials and the list of
Chapter 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
gap and the importance of literacy in the 2lst century will be discussed. Research
articles discussing the merits of teaching roots and affixes as a means for vocabulary
be explored, and the relationship between student achievement and motivation will be
addressed.
level from those who do not meet minimum standards for their appropriate grade
level. The ramifications of this include: large numbers of students unable to pass the
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) exam to graduate from high school,
students unable to apply for college due to low test scores and grades, and a number of
students failing out of school altogether. Data analysis and standardized testing have
allowed researchers to definitively inform the public that particular groups of students
Table 1, developed using statistics from the 2007-2008 school year for
California students in their senior year of high school, shows disparity in CAHSEE
passage rates.
Table 1
Table 2
English-Language Arts
S g cm
IA!!Students 46
Female [ 50
|Male 42
lEconomically Disadvantaged _[2
|Not Economically Disadvantaged [62
English Only Students [4
Initially-Fluent English Proficient (I-FEP)[ 62
Reclassified-Fluent English Proficient (R-|
FEP) e _L
In the early part of the 2 1st century, California developed the P16 Council to
research the achievement gap and offer workable solutions to the major problems
lessen the achievement gap. One of these suggestions was to "Focus on Academic
Rigor." Teaching students roots and affixes in order for them to increase their
Clearly, some groups of students are falling behind the rest, and jeopardizing
their chances for a successful future. Although STAR test scores and the CAHSEE test
9
scores are a method for analyzing student success, it is also important to look at the
Literacy skills are vital for today's workforce. Students who have the
knowledge and skills needed to pass the STAR tests and CAHSEE, and subsequently
pass high school, are more likely to possess the skills necessary to get a higher paying
job. Additionally, an individual's level of education may also affect his or her
unemployment status. Table 3 demonstrates this correlation. Note: Data are 2008
annual averages for persons 25 years of age and over. Earnings are for full time wage
Table 3
that 35% of firms tested job applicants for literacy skills. Of those tested, over 34% of
applicants lacked the skills necessary to perform the jobs they sought. Over 84% of the
Association, 2001).
agencies, and teachers to provide high quality programs that promote literacy skills.
Students must have these skills in order to graduate from high school and succeed in
the workforce. In order to plan for student success, educators must understand how
Constructivism
developed and molded by Emanuel Kant, John Dewey, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky.
The theory suggests that, "Learners construct their own understanding of the world
are given tools, strategies and models by the teacher, but the student himself/herself is
The results of this theory affect the implications of the methodology section of
this study, as well as the teacher's role in the student's learning. The goal of teaching
roots and affixes is that the student be able to construct and decode meaning from
unfamiliar words. Thus, the teacher is acting as a guide, not a direct information-
disseminator. The student must learn to observe and recall relationships between the
meaning of roots and affixes and the meaning of unfamiliar words, thereby
Bloom's Taxonomy
B. S. Bloom's (1984) research led him to identify, six levels of cognition and
a concept, while evaluation would show a deeper level of understanding and mastery.
Bloom believed that a student must possess the former before they can possess the
latter.
The pre and posttests administered in this study were formulated using
Bloom's Taxonomy. For example, a student who merely possesses "knowledge" about
the subject of roots and affixes may have memorized some of the definitions of
various word parts studied. A student who had a deep understanding of the material
would operate on the evaluative level; students would be able to compare and contrast
the meanings of various word parts, evaluate whether or not the meaning of the word
part applied to the new word, and make a conclusion based on evidence gathered.
12
Although the purpose of this thesis is to extol the merits of teaching roots and
teaching this method in exclusion. Teachers should employ various other strategies in
speaking, reading and listening skills. Although these four components are variegated,
they are not mutually exclusive, and non are any disassociated with vocabulary. In
nearly every aspect of the California State Framework, vocabulary development and
1999).
for California Public Schools" (CDE, 1999). This document outlines the required
grade level has specific information and facts to learn and apply, all grade levels have
the following general components in common: (a) Word Analysis, Fluency and
Response and Analysis, (d) Writing Strategies and Applications, and (e) Listening and
All of these aspects of a comprehensive literacy program require the use and
literature, they need to understand the meaning of the words they are reading. If a
student is writing, they need to be able to use rich vocabulary in their writing. If a
the words being spoken or utilize a number of vocabulary words when speaking. In
rich vocabulary keeps many students from meeting grade-level benchmarks and
Words are the tools we use to think, to express ideas and feelings, and to learn
about the world. Because words are the very foundation of learning, improving
the verbal sections of the high-stakes standardized tests used in most states to
comprehension. (1).
English learners, and this can greatly inhibit these students from progress and
inability to comprehend reading (in any subject), an inability to write at grade level,
and an inability to understand the function of words in grammar (Wallace). The lack
new language.
for reading comprehension. While deciphering context clues is a very important skill
for students to possess, many students are not able to do this effectively, and therefore
and Nation (1985) show that 95% of the words surrounding an unfamiliar vocabulary
vocabulary word. If this is the case, educators are doing a great disservice to many
students if they depend on the student inferring meaning through context clues alone.
knowledge can continue to plague students throughout their academic careers, even as
they progress in higher education. Researchers Turner and Williams (2007) found that
critical thinking ability, both factors that seem very important. Turner and Williams
took test results from a large study which included 12 mandatory college-level courses
words that were likely to show up on course examinations, and had shown up on
were also given the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraiser, as well as a 50-item
multiple choice exam measuring student's pre-course content knowledge. Each of the
12 sections of classes were monitored by the same senior professor, abided by the
same syllabus, followed the same content, and administered the same examinations.
Turner and Williams (2007) tabulated the pre and posttest scores in
vocabulary, critical thinking and pre-course knowledge, and correlated these with
scores on the final multiple-choice examination. Research indicated that the single
vocabulary knowledge. Researchers surmised that the reason some students did poorly
on the final examination was that they lacked a solid foundation in vocabulary
knowledge, and therefore had great difficulty understanding what the multiple-choice
questions were asking, and/or did not understand the multiple choice options for their
answers. Hence, it was discovered that a rich vocabulary played an essential role in
The case has been made for the importance of teaching vocabulary. The next
logical step is to investigate the merits of teaching roots and affixes as a method for
helping students decode words and deduce meaning based on their knowledge of the
word parts.
16
recognizing and teaching cognates between the two languages. Cognates are words
that are similar in structure and meaning in two languages, and have the same or
similar meaning in two or more languages. Jim Cummins (2002) recommends using
cognates to increase vocabulary for Spanish speakers, as nearly 15, 000 words in
Table 4
English-SpanishCognates
Echevarria (2005) shows that students who have a Latin-based native language are
able t recognize English words with similar Latin derivations. The authors build a case
for the necessity for students to learn academic language and vocabulary words. Many
of these academic words are cognates, derivatives of the "Romance Languages" (Short
& Echevarria). The "Romance Languages" refer to a group of related languages all
derived from the Vulgar Latin, which can be traced back to the era of the Roman
17
Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. These related languages all share common basic
Romance Language, the high instance of cognates between English and other
Romance Languages make it very similar to the Romance Languages listed above.
following cognates all relate to the Latin root word "viv," which means life/live.
Table 5
Roots and affixes can help students decode and decipher new words, even if
they are in an unknown or unfamiliar language, because they sound and look similar.
Although not all languages have cognates with the English language (for example,
teaching roots as cognates will be helpful for many of our students, especially since
California has a large population of students who speak one of the Romance
Languages.
18
In a study by Mara Carlo et al. (Mara Carlo et al., 2004), conducted with 142
Spanish-speakers as well as native English speakers in fourth and fifth grades, students
vocabulary intervention program were given 12 new words per week, all taken from
short reading selections and all words students were likely to encounter across
different domains. Word activities were designed to help students make semantic
links, infer meaning from context and use word analysis-roots, affixes, cognates and
The knowledge of roots and affixes has been proven to help students of all
ages and in a variety of fields of study. In a study conducted by Wang, Liang, and Ge
(2008), researchers purposed to find ways to help new medical students learn the great
the most frequently used medical terms from an official Medical Academic Word List,
and found that 12.24% of all words came from a group of word families. These word
families, or sets of roots and affixes, proved to be very beneficial for medical students
to learn, as it helped them decode new words, and therefore perform better on tests.
Thus, the importance of roots and affixes applies to other subject matter and fields, not
just English/Language arts. The knowledge of common roots and affixes could assist a
The case has been built for the importance of teaching roots and affixes to
students as a means for improving and enhancing vocabulary development. Now, the
2001). This strategy is to be used when teaching a new concept or lesson, or any other
time a teacher must deliver important information. A sample lesson prepared by the
DataWorks Company regarding suffixes has been provided (see Appendix A). The
EDI method includes stating a clear and focused objective at the beginning of the
lesson. Students are informed that they are expected to learn the objective by the end
of the lesson. Students know that all assessments relate to lessons, which is another
way they are motivated to learn the material. When teaching new vocabulary terms,
the teacher gives the student the definition of the new word. The reasoning is based on
research which noted that students often remember only the first definition they hear,
and not necessarily the correct definition. That is, if a teacher asks four students the
meaning of a word, and the first two give a wrong answer or guess, the other students
in the class will likely not remember the correct answer that the fourth student gave;
The strategy also involves whole class participation, where students can
Students are also given much time to discuss teacher-directed questions (organized in
a manner similar to those in Bloom's 1984 taxonomy) with a partner or group. Models
for appropriate assessments are also given. There is a prescribed format for lesson
delivery, and teachers are asked to follow this model as closely as possible
A recent study (Min, 2008) supports the findings of Ybarra and DataWorks.
new vocabulary words simply by reading those words in text, or whether direct
Foreign Language students working at an intermediate level. One group was asked to
read particular texts and participated in vocabulary exercises to go along with the
texts. The other group was given the same text, but instead of vocabulary exercises,
the group was asked to read additional texts with similar thematic elements. No
explicit vocabulary instruction was given to the other group. Results showed students
who were given reading assignments and direct instruction in related vocabulary
words performed better on exams than students who were supposed to acquire words
naturally and devise word meanings on their own. In any language, each word must be
examined and taught with relation to connotation and denotation, and an English
21
learner would most likely not be able to determine these shades of meaning if reading
effects of vocabulary instruction and identified three key components of cohesive and
The last component mentioned speaks to the importance of root and affix knowledge
as a means for struggling readers to decode and define new words. Note: occasionally,
a researcher may use "word families" and "roots and affixes" interchangeably. "Word
to a vocabulary development plan (as in, teachers across subject matter would all
emphasize a particular list of vocabulary words, roots and affixes). This sort of school
wide focus on vocabulary development would be an asset to this proposal for learning
22
roots and affixes. For the purposes of this thesis, a model for this type of learning will
language, much research has been done on the best methods to teach and learn new
vocabulary words. Smith (2008) conducted his research after noticing his teenage
students would often "memorize" vocabulary words for a test, and then promptly
forget them. Smith found he got better results in his classroom when he emphasized
the importance of teaching vocabulary through the use of games and activities that
correlate with the lesson, as opposed to giving students lists of vocabulary words to
vocabulary words: integration (similar to what Ebbers and Denton, 2008, mention in
part "a" above), meaningful use (words used contextually), and repetition. This
increased student motivation. Using games and activities as a method for teaching
students vocabulary may seem like common sense to some, but it is in fact an
Schmitt and Schmitt (1993) researched the best practices and strategies for
enormous number of studies, and did action research to see which worked best in
teaching 600 students, ranging in age from junior high school to adults, new
vocabulary words. Vocabulary decoding strategies were categorized into two distinct
23
categories. The first category included 14 methods for learning a new word's initial
working with others, and analyzing words from available information. The second
garnered from: a survey of English teachers, a survey with 600 participating students
about how they studied vocabulary, and the consultation of various textbooks and
teacher manuals. Results were tallied to indicate which strategies students found most
useful.
The survey given to students indicated the following two strategies to be the
most effective in teaching students new vocabulary words: written repetition and
the least helpful included: using cognates, associating words to others which are
related to it, and studying the roots, prefixes and suffixes. Results of the survey were
very surprising to the authors as both of the top two "helpful" strategies are considered
(1984) taxonomy, these strategies would be on the lower end (knowledge). Strategies
gravitate toward the superficial end of the processing spectrum. Some students may
not have been taught higher order processing skills, and therefore did not recognize
the strategy as something that they used or could find useful. Other students may
naturally gravitate toward strategies that were "easier" to understand. Schmitt and
Schmitt also cited a study by Politzer and McGroaty (1985) that found that students
from particular ethnic backgrounds (such as Asian) tend to prefer rote memorization,
as that is the method most often employed by teachers from these countries. While
researchers did not find out which strategy preferred by the students was most
beneficial in increasing student achievement (this would be a good extension for the
work done by Schmitt and Schmitt, 1993), the study points to a very important aspect
teaching roots and affixes, and cognates, and it would behoove students to be taught
Motivation
motivation, a student may fail to perform to their highest potential. Below, a variety of
perception, views regarding academic success, and identifying and celebrating the
finds that there is not a singular reason to address all reasons for motivation, or lack
thereof, in students. He found instead that reasons for motivation depend on individual
students. He determined that different students achieve for various reasons. It could be
a material reinforcer that motivates students (such as stickers, candy or toys). For
another student, being able to master a particular skill or objective is the key to their
motivation. In the case of other students, their competitive nature fosters the
motivation to succeed. The schoolteacher should recognize, appreciate and foster these
the learning environment on the meeting of academic achievement goals and the
motivation to learn. Researchers found the classroom environment plays a large part in
not students who participated in a classroom where physical activities were a large
performed better than students who were taught in a more traditional scripted
curriculum. The results of the study indicated that students who participated in the
26
classroom where physical activities constituted a large part of the curriculum fared
better than students who did not. The methodology section of my thesis reflects the
Alvermann et al. (2007) determined that negative self perceptions were very prevalent
among underachieving readers, and would sometimes cause a mental block in their
Rich (2005) examined why at-risk seventh graders often perform poorly in
school and what strategies can be employed to help them reach their full potential.
academic success was something that they themselves could attain; success was not
merely the lofty accomplishment of the "smart" students. Rich also found that students
needed to understand the clear objectives and outcomes of the lesson and to make the
connection between what was being taught and how they could apply it to their lives
(whether now or in the future). In the methodology section of this thesis, it should be
noted that this researcher utilized results from this study after administering the pre-
test to students. The researcher will praise students for their accomplishments on the
pre-test and encourage students to note their learning progress as they master new
objectives.
27
Summary
constructivism and Bloom's Taxonomy, and in the context of teaching all components
of a Language Arts curriculum, teaching common roots and affixes is one possible
strategy that can help students develop a rich vocabulary. Teaching roots and affixes
will especially be of great importance to English Leamers, as many roots and affixes
instruction initially, to give students solid definitions of key words (for example, root,
prefix and suffix). Using explicit direct instruction will also promote full-class
participation and allow the instructor to check for understanding and re-teach as
explicit direct instruction, in order to increase student motivation and interest, and in
with respect to connotation and denotation, since this is an area which is difficult for
many struggling students. Instructors should also formulate activities and assess
students based on the model given in Bloom's taxonomy. This researcher aims to
discover whether or not the teaching of roots and affixes effects the vocabulary
28
California.
29
Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
This study determines to uncover whether or not teaching roots and affixes will
students who are taught roots and affixes versus those who are not. A second null
Setting
approximately 95% of all English learners at the school are Spanish speaking. The
school's Academic Performance Index (API) score in 2007-2008 was 6 (raw 741),
which means the school has an API score in the highest 60% of all schools in the state.
The school is in its fifth year of Program Improvement, and while it has met some
critical benchmarks, the school still struggles to meet Adequate Yearly Progress
(AYP) with several categorical indicators, including English Learners and Students
above on the state standardized test, the yearly STAR test (Vacaville Unified School
District, 2009).
30
Students who are not performing at a level of proficient or above at their grade
level are targeted for strategic intervention, and are placed in a double period math or
English course for as many years as it takes for them to become proficient. Counselors
and former teachers make the final decision about whether a student is placed in a
double period class, although most students considered for the double period class
have low scores on the following: STAR test, district benchmarks, Accelerated Reader
(reading comprehension placement exam), and Prentice Hall Placement Exam (in
Participants
English students, all in the seventh grade. Since all students are struggling with grade-
level material, the classes are capped at 20 students per class. In this study, each class
had 17 students. Classes are comparable in terms of: average STAR scores on the
English/Language Arts portion of the STAR exam, number of English learners, and
average grades on district benchmark exams. Both classes were assigned a treatment,
and neither class was specifically informed of their treatment. An informational flier
describing the methods and motivations for this research was sent home with each
student, and parents/guardians were given the opportunity to ask that their student not
participate in the research (see Appendix A). All students were allowed to participate
in this study.
31
Instruments
The pretest and posttest were created by the researcher using Bloom's (1984)
taxonomy (see Appendices A and B). Both tests were developed to test student
vocabulary and decoding skills as they relate to roots and affixes. One group of
questions tested student knowledge of the definitions and functions of roots, prefixes
and affixes. On Bloom's scale, these types of questions would be considered on the
tested student understanding of particular roots and affixes, which Bloom would call
"application." Still other groups of questions tested student ability to synthesize and
evaluate words, which can also be called decoding. Hence, students were tested using
all levels of Bloom's taxonomy. The test consisted of twenty questions, and included a
variety of multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, and short answer. Although the
questions were different, both the pretest and posttest were identical in structure,
Research Design
Both classes were taught by this researcher, and both had utilized the same
curriculum throughout the school year. Both classes had received identical amounts of
instruction in roots and affixes prior to the research period. Both classes took place in
the morning. Both classes were given the pretest on the same day. Instruction in roots
and affixes was given to the experimental group at a rate of three extra lessons related
to roots and affixes per week, with lessons lasting approximately 20 minutes per
32
lesson. Introductory lessons were delivered using the Explicit Direct Instruction
model, and further lessons were designed and delivered using other researched-based
models. Students in the control group were given the vocabulary instruction located in
the textbook, with no additional instruction in roots and affixes provided. After
approximately four weeks, a posttest was given to both the experimental and the
control group.
The researcher developed the following series of lesson plans to deliver to the
test group. Lessons were delivered approximately three times per week, for
formal lessons, and lessons were broken into the following subgroups.
33
Table 6
Lesson Plans
Data Analysis
mean of the growth of the pretest and posttest from the control group and experimental
group was compared. To determine whether there was a difference in data, and to
determine whether or not the difference between the pre and posttest was significant,
data were evaluated. All data were analyzed using a t-test for independent means.
35
Chapter 4
DATA
The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of teaching roots and
who are taught roots and affixes versus those who are not. A second null hypothesis is
that there is no difference in outcome with regards to gender in terms of net gain or
The experimental group was given instruction in roots and affixes. The control
group was only given the vocabulary instruction specific to the Literature book
students normally utilize in class, which generally does not provide much instruction
in roots and affixes. The treatment lasted approximately four weeks, with
approximately three lessons in roots and affixes delivered per week at a rate of 20
minutes per lesson. Two students entered the classrooms during week three of the
instructional period, and their scores were not counted. In the end, the control group
included 17 students (10 males, 7 females) and the experimental group included 17
students (8 males, 9 females). Table 7 displays the data from the pre and posttest for
both groups.
36
Table 7
Results
Analyses were done on the mean gain or loss between the pretest and posttest for both
the experimental and control groups. See Figure 1 for the data used in this analysis. A
second analysis was done by breaking down the results of the experimental group by
The first analysis of the data was done to address the first null hypothesis,
analyzing scores from the pretest and the posttest in both the experimental and the
control groups. For each step of analysis, a 95% confidence level (a = 0.05) was used
and it was assumed that the experimental and control groups had unequal variances.
both the control and experimental groups, in order to discern whether the two groups
had different overall vocabulary aptitudes, as measured by mean pretest scores. After
examining the data, it was determined that the difference in overall class aptitude as
measured by the mean pretest scores of the control class (M = 10.29, SD = 3.31) and
the experimental class (M = 8.83, SD = 2.81) was not statistically significant, t(32) =
1.3863, p = 0.1752.
The posttest scores for each group were compared, and it was found that the
control class achieved a gain of 9.88% in its mean posttest score (M = 9.71, SD =
3.31). Statistical analysis showed that the difference between these posttest means was
scores between the pre and post tests that can be attributed to teaching roots and
affixes is 46.69%, which is calculated by taking subtracting the percentage gain of the
24 .................... ...................
Experimental Group: Experimental Group: Control Group: Control Group:
Pre-Test Score Post-Test Score Pre-Test Score Post-Test Score
The second analysis of the data reviewed the statistical significance of the net
difference between the scores of the pre and post tests for each gender in the
experimental group. Males in the experimental group achieved a posttest score 57.32%
higher than the pretest score (M = 16.13, SD = 4.08), while females in the same group
achieved a posttest score 55.91% higher than the pretest score (M = 16.11, SD = 4.26).
An analysis of the difference between the gains made by each gender found that the
difference shown by the data is not statistically significant, t(l5) = 0.8281, p = 0.4206.
39
Therefore, the roots and affixes training given to the experimental class did not
14
216
12 f . ..
1 10.33
0 Hur _i -
Summary
The quantitative analysis of the data rejected the first null hypothesis. Teaching
Additionally, the quantitative analysis of the data did not reject the second null
middle school in Northern California did not advantage one gender over the other.
40
Chapter 5
Summary
subject area and assessment. In today's world of high stakes testing and a high school
exit examination, students must become proficient in their knowledge and application
are just some of the subgroups who experience a vast achievement gap. After students
graduate high school, statistics show students who are more literate will receive better
paying jobs and have a lower rate of unemployment. Additionally, most employers are
unwilling to pay for and provide additional training for employees lacking literacy
skills. The problem of the achievement gap is one that is plaguing teachers,
administrators and state officials, and many solutions have been offered. The
researcher has offered teaching roots and affixes as one possible solution to assist in
The theoretical basis for this study lies within the educational philosophy of
students will create their own meaning out of information. Students learning roots and
41
affixes will construct their own meaning out of words by learning decoding skills.
Bloom's taxonomy offered the researcher a basis for formulating the pre and posttests.
Teaching roots and affixes is beneficial for students in that it gives students a
strategy for decoding the meanings of unknown words. Because roots and affixes are
important for English Learners to learn roots and affixes. It is also important for
students to learn roots and affixes because learning vocabulary is important throughout
all subjects.
clear objectives and breaking a lesson down step-by-step for students. Other important
principles to consider when designing roots and affixes lessons are: creating a verbal
learning environment that fosters word consciousness, selecting and teaching specific
words, and teaching independent word learning strategies. Games and activities should
also be employed in order teach students in a manner that both fosters learning and
specific student can vary greatly, research shows that doing physical activities,
working with a group, and using clear objectives can help motivate students to learn.
Conclusions
studied. Students in the experimental group were given instruction in roots and affixes
42
for approximately three times per week at a rate of 20 minutes per session, for four
weeks. Students in the control group were taught using the usual literature book.
Data analysis showed the gains in the test scores of the experimental group
were statistically significant. Teaching roots and affixes does positively affect the
Data analysis also showed that the difference in test performance of students in
the experimental group in regard to gender was not statistically significant. Therefore,
the data suggests that the second null hypothesis cannot be rejected.
Concerns
small sample size in both the experimental and the control groups make the study less
likely to be generalizable. While the fact that the same teacher taught both the
experimental and the control classes used in this study, the specificity of the location
(a suburban middle school in Northern California), makes the study less likely to yield
Since the sample size was small, differences among individual students may
lead to differences in test scores. For example, at various points during the teaching
period, students may have been absent from the class during the time of either explicit
much instruction in roots and affixes students had in other classes prior to this year.
Even though roots and affixes appear in the California state standards beginning in the
essential standard, or how much time (if any) they spent teaching roots and affixes.
Some teachers may have taught roots and affixes in a very organized and strategic
manner, while others may not have focused on this standard at all. Additionally,
students in the researcher's class come from a variety of educational backgrounds, and
are functioning at different academic levels. Other variables that could influence test
Further Recommendations
Although the results of this research did suggest that teaching roots and affixes
generalizability of this study and to refine teaching strategies. This particular study
students in a wider variety of grade levels, to deduce whether or not teaching roots and
affixes has a positive effect on their vocabulary development as well. It would also
teaching strategies are most suitable to teaching roots and affixes. If research indicated
44
that teaching roots and affixes had a positive influence on student's vocabulary scores
to ensure that students learned the most common roots, prefixes and suffixes at each
grade levels. Additionally, a school may want to consider adopting specific roots,
prefixes and affixes to be taught across all subjects. In this model, students would have
particular roots and affixes reinforced in classes other than just English, to include
history, science, social science and mathematics. Continued research on this subject
could lead to a more cohesive, comprehensive and aggressive focus on teaching roots
and affixes to affect a positive and more rapid increase in the acquisition of a rich
vocabulary.
learning, it is imperative that teachers apply the latest research findings to their
vocabulary teaching methods in order to best serve their students. Especially in a time
when school budgets are being cut and student interventions decreased, educators need
to creatively find ways to boost student learning. In the appendix to this thesis, readers
can find a wide variety of little or no cost ideas for teaching roots and affixes. If
educators fail to prepare students for the complex and competitive world into which
they will soon enter, many students will find themselves at a disadvantage in terms of
passing the next class, entering higher education, and obtaining a job. It is up to
educators to research best practices and data driven teaching methods, and help their
APPENDIX A
Consent Letter
46
January 2009
English 7
Dear Parents,
Please contact me if you have any further questions or would like additional
information.
Thank you,
APPENDIX B
Student Pretest
48
Student Pretest
*Recall:
Matching: Match the following roots, prefixes and suffixes with their definitions
1. Re (prefix) a. field
___2. Dis (prefix) b. make reverse of/not
3. Ify (suffix) c. again
__4. Agri (root) e. great or big
5. Magni (root) f. cause 'to be'
*Define
6. In vocabulary, what is a root word?
a) The most basic part of a word that gives it and other words like it meaning
b) The bottom part of a plant
c) The same thing as an entire word
7. Where is a prefix located?
a) At the end of a word
b) At the beginning of a word
c) At the beginning, middle, or end of a word
8. Which of the following can change the kind of word you are working with (i.e.
noun to adjective)?
a) Prefix
b) Suffix
c) Root
9. Where is a suffix located?
a) At the beginning of a word
b) At the end of a word
c) At the beginning, middle, or end of a word
*Apply
10. Use contextual clues and your knowledge of roots and affixes to determine the
meaning of the word anticlimactic
Dillon loved scary movies. He loved predicting what would happen next, and
especially loved the most suspenseful and intense scenes. He spent so much
nervous energy during the movie, he felt like he needed a rest afterward. However,
The Saw Hunter, Dillon's latest rental, was extremely boring. There were no
exciting parts. How anticlimactic!
a) Anticlimactic probably means scary and intense
b) Anticlimactic probably means it was a big let down
c) Dejected probably means the movie had a climax
49
11. Use your knowledge of roots and affixes to determine the meaning of the word
malevolent
Mr. Scrooge was feeling very malevolent on the day before Christmas. He refused
to give money to the poor, yelled at his nephew, and wished everyone else was as
sad and lonely as he was. He often said, "Bah! Humbug!"
a) Malevolent probably means wishing bad things on someone else
b) Malevolent probably means feeling violent
c) Malevolent probably means acting like a male
12. Knowing that the word part magni means great or big, and that ify means to cause
it to be, what does magnify mean?
a) The same exact thing as magnificent
b) To get bigger or greater
c) To cause something to be big or great
APPENDIX C
Student Posttest
51
Student Posttest
*Recall:
Matching: Match the following roots, prefixes and suffixes with their definitions
_ 1. magni (root) a. field
_ 2. re (prefix) b. not/make reverse of
_ 3. agri (root) c. cause 'to be'
_ 4. dis (prefix) d. great or big
_ 5. ise (suffix) e. again
*Define:
6. In vocabulary, what is a root word?
a) The most basic part of a word that gives it an other words like it meaning
b) The bottom of a plant
c) The same thing as the entire word
7. Where is the prefix located?
a) At the end of a word
b) At the beginning of a word
c) At the beginning, middle, or end of a word
8. Where is the suffix located?
a) At the end of a word
b) At the beginning of a word
c) At the beginning, middle, or end of a word
9. Where can a root be located?
a) Either at the beginning, middle or end of a word
b) At the beginning of the word only
c) At the end of the word only
* Apply:
10. Use your knowledge of roots and affixes to determine the meaning of the word
reconvene, as used in the following paragraph.
The Student Council, a group of twelve student leaders, was having a meeting to
discuss plans for the next school dance. Although they could agree on the time of
the dance, the decorations, and what type of music to play, they had trouble
deciding on the cost. The arguments got so heated that they decided to take a break
and reconvene after 10 minutes. Maybe everyone needed to cool off for a little
while.
What is the MOST LIKELY definition of the word reconvene?
a) Continue the meeting
b) Meet again later
c) Break up the meeting forever.
52
11. Use your knowledge of roots at affixes to determine the meaning of the word
malevolently:
a) Malevolently probably means doing something to someone else that is very
bad and harmful
b) Malevolently probably means being a violent male
c) Malevolently probably means giving something up for lent
12. Use your knowledge of roots and affixes to determine the meaning of the word
magnification:
a) Magnification probably means making something fictional.
b) Magnification probably means to make something like a magnet.
c) Magnification probably means the act of making something bigger.
*Analyze/Evaluate/Create:
APPENDIX D
Name
Lurarning Objective
Today, we will use prefixes to determine' the meaning of words.
I figure out
CFLU
mNhatare we going, to o Loday?
'Wh'It are we going to iefertenirie today?
WVhin dlos !etorironin mean?
A B
Prefix Meanings
re- again
. 40:
,[,jnot
re- tell
Concept Development
A orefix is a letter or group of letters inserted' at the beginning of.a word to change,
its meaning.
I placed
Example:
re- means again when added to the beginning of a word.
Prefix + Word Prefix Meaning Meaning of Word
reuse re- means useagain
rename -again- name again
Non-example:
Reach -re is not a prefix because ach is not a word.
Rest -re is not a prefix because st is not a word.
CFU:
What is a prefix?
Which word has a prefix? 1. restart 2. start How do you know?
What would ie tVhe meaning of restart if re- means again? How do you know?
Importance
It is important to know how to use prefixes so we can figure out 2 the meaning of
words. (no rleased CST questions for this part of the standard)
2 understand
CFU
Does anyone else have a reason why it's important to use prefixes to determine the meaning of
words? (pair-share) Why is it important to use prefixes? You may give me my reason or one of
your own. Which importance means the most to you? Why?
UOOaWOHHS
Educe lional Reseerch 3"' Grade Readingc Vocablulary 1.3
(8004I I v555QdcWOI ks;rl.C-m Usse o:&iaee to determine the meajning of vords.
O.Wa^orks EdueationaltRe se-ich . All light<:
r3CC.8 ved
56
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
sub- under
un- happy
pre- test
sub- standard
un- wanted
re- write
pre- school
CFU ^ . .. -
What is Step.4t? Why is Step #3 imporiant?
How do you know the meaning of the new word?
Do Step #3 and show. Do Step #4 and show. How did you get your answer?
.- .3 .
DBtaWORKS Educalior'lo Research 3"' Grade Reading Vorabuilary 1.8
f8O0) 4'5. l.5d * p.w. e I ed.cr,.2m Use prCfixes tfo deternine thie reaning of Words.
(!,)200t, DOdtaWorki; Edurationof Research. All rights reserved.
57
Ildependent Practice
Name
A prefix is a letter or group of letters inserted at the-beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
mis- wrongly
un- tie
pre- teen
mis- behave
un- glue
re- pay
pre- view
mis- understand
-4
DataWDRHKS Eduoecicnioil Research Grade Re,~adinq Vora~buliry l R
BTO
18001 1*?5 1550 e Vwr.IalJOwOt:iS. .(.CDljc Use prefixes to determine the meInaina of words.
2rdJS DaieWorks Fducadioal r ese-arch All rights revrrvfcd.
58
Periodic Review 1
Name
A prefix is a letter or group of letters inserted at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
mis- wrongly
un- balanced
pre- test
un- doing
un- matched
re- claim
pre- judge
mis- spelled
Periodic Review 2
Name
A orefix Isa letter or group of letters inserted at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
sub- under
un- spoken
pre- owned
sub- normal
un- true
re- set
pre- package
sub- text
- .6
DataWRNKS Educolionail Pesi-arc 3'' , Reading Vocatulary .1.8
1800,) 4195-15c5- V A do'owoi -e .t 0 l!se p;re(.8xS to de:reinco the meaning of wo:rd.
o20080r DattaWorl:s Educational Rinsearch, All rights reserve(l.
60
Periodic Review 3
Name
A prefix is a letter or group of letters inserted at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
mis- wrongly
un- safe
pre- test
mis- taken
un- sure
re- form
pre- paid
mis- guided
Periodic Review 4
Name
A 2refix is a letter or group of letters inserted at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
sub- under
un- seen
pre- school
sub- soil
un- wanted
re- finish
pre- war
sub- structure
Periodic Review 5
Name
A prfix is a letter or group of letters inserted at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix Meanings
re- again
un- not
pre- before
mis- wrongly
un- prepared
pre- shrink
mis- matched
un- cooked
re- gain
pre- record
mis- printed
- .9
DataWORKS Educalioncl Research ?"lGrode Reading Vocabulary 1.8
8 1O)
495 (550 - v.doow ori:sucjg oiri Use prefixes to derernine tile meaning of words.
©:.)2008 DataoWorks Fductiounal Reiseurch, All rights reserved.
63
BLANK PAGE
-1.0
DataWORKS Edrcalioioil Reseaich ,rd rade Reading Vocabulary 1.8
Z80OJ I
'195 1,5( , 0 Use, prefxes to determine the nimening of v4nrds.
ta'Npjrks! Educational rliegarch. All rninfls reevcd.t3.
Da2OGS
64
APPENDIX E
Information Chart
65
Information Chart
During one lesson, students created organized charts similar to the student sample
below. The chart included the name of the root or affix, the meaning of the root or
affix, the type, sample words, and definition. The organization and information was
helpful to the students both for organizing thoughts and as a reference for other
projects.
66
APPENDIX F
APPENDIX G
Student Worksheet
69
Student Worksheet
Students created their own worksheets (with teacher modeling) to teach individual
roots and affixes.
70
APPENDIX H
This is a simple and low cost game that students enjoy playing. Here are steps:
a) Create questions and answers about roots and affixes, dividing them into 3
main categories (although it could be played with many more). The questions
should be easiest at the top and hardest at the bottom.
SAMPLE:
/00 100
2100 200
c500 30
c) Divide students into two equal teams, and further divide into pairs.
d) Students will pick their category and point value, and the teacher will ask the
corresponding question.
e) If the student pair gets the question right, his/her team gets the points. If they
get it wrong, a pair on the other team has the opportunity to answer the
question correctly. If the second pair gets it wrong, the question is discarded
and neither team receives any points.
f) The team who has the most points after all questions have been asked is
declared the winner.
73
REFERENCES
Alvermann, D. E., Hagood, M. C., Heron-Hruby, A., Hughes, P., Williams, K., &
Yoon, J.-C. (2007). Telling themselves who they are: What one out-of-school
31-50.
Management Association.
Becker, S., Wise, L., & Watters, C. (2008). Independent evaluation of the High School
Research Organization.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/508379/Romance-languages
http://stats.bls.gov/emp/emptab7.htm
and Reporting (STAR) program. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from the
ed.com/resources/index.php
Ebbers, S. M., & Denton, C. A. (2008). A root awakening: Vocabulary instruction for
Practice,23(2), 92-102.
Eggen, P., & Kauchak, D. (2001). Strategiesfor teachers: Teaching content and
Liu, N., & Nation, I. (1985). Factors affecting guessing vocabulary in context. RELC
Mara Carlo, M. S., August, D., McLaughlin, B., Snow, C. E., Dressler, C., Lippman,
D. N., et al. (2004). Closing the gap: Addressing the vocabulary needs of
http://www.cde.gov/eo/in/pc/documents/yrO8mckinsey1218.pdf
Min, H. (2008). EFL vocabulary acquisition and retention: Reading plus vocabulary
115.
Politzer, R., & McGroaty, M. (1985). An exploratory study of learning behaviors and
Schmitt, N., & Schmitt, D. R. (1993). Identifying and assessing vocabulary learning
Short, D., & Echevarria, J. (2005). Teacher skills to support English Language
Wang, J., Liang, S.-I., & Ge, G.C. (2008). Establishment of a medical academic word