What is an appropriate sequence for morphology instruction in structured literacy?

The chosen sequence of inflectional endings, derivational endings, Latin base words, and Greek combining forms is grounded in the principles of structured literacy and effective morphology instruction. This approach begins with inflectional endings, which are crucial because they modify the meaning of base words to convey grammatical information, such as tense or number. For students to understand how to manipulate words and form various tenses or plurals, starting with inflectional endings provides a solid foundation in morphological understanding.

Following this, introducing derivational endings builds on that knowledge by explaining how these can change a word’s meaning or its part of speech, creating new words from base forms. This progression helps learners see the connections between words and understand the role of morphology in expanding vocabulary.

Once students are comfortable with basic inflections and derivations, the introduction of Latin base words can add depth to their understanding. Latin is a significant source of vocabulary in English, and students can begin to draw connections between these roots and the English words they encounter. Finally, Greek combining forms can be introduced to broaden students' repertoire, especially as they encounter specialized terminology in fields such as science and medicine. This sequence not only promotes mastery in understanding word structure but also equips learners with tools to decode and comprehend more