The Survey of Morphological Knowledge
The following brief survey first samples a student’s ability to recognize
meaningful parts of words (morphemes) and to distinguish prefixes, roots,
and suffixes. Next, the survey addresses a student’s ability to read words
with the most common inflectional suffixes and several basic derivational
suffixes (e.g., -s, -ed, -ful, -ly, -less) Finally, this survey samples a student’s
recognition of words constructed from Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and
suffixes – words that are typically known by students in the intermediate
grades.
This informal survey is not scored, as its predictive value is unknown. The
survey should help teachers become aware that meaningful word parts can
and should be taught directly with a program that emphasizes morphology,
such as Ebbers’ (2003) Vocabulary Through Morphemes, Henry’s (2003)
Unlocking Literacy, or the word study progam Spellography (Moats &
Rosow, 2002). Many more prefixes, roots, and suffixes than those in this
survey would be part of a comprehensive word study program.
LETRS Module 12 Assessment
Survey of Morphological Knowledge Grade 3 – Adult
Scoring Sheet
1.
Identifying morphemes. Say, “Read the following words, and
circle the prefixes, underline the roots or base words, and box the
suffixes. Some words may have no prefix or suffix, or more than
one suffix. Watch me do this example.”
pro fess ion al
pre vent
tell
test ing
lift ed
re
im measur(e) able
fat(t) en ing
fast er
mis spell
non
dis rupt ion
like ly
re flex es
in spect or
un
2.
3.
Inflections and common suffixes. Say, “Read the following words
out loud.”
faster
fastest
grabbed
ticking
slowly
listed
flipped
helpful
lips
bags
boxes
helpless
Morphologically complex words. Say, “Read the following words
out loud.”
regrettable
permission
incredulous
suppressed
indentured
popular
creativity
philosophical
illegal
accessible
objectify
visionary
LETRS Module 12 Assessment
Survey of Morphological Knowledge Grade 3 – Adult
Student Response Sheet
1.
In the words below, circle the prefixes, underline the roots or base
words, and box the suffixes. Some words may have no prefix or
suffix, or more than one suffix. For example:
pro fess ion al
2.
3.
prevent
testing
lifted
immeasurable
nonfattening
faster
misspell
disruption
unlikely
reflexes
inspector
retell
Read the following words out loud.
faster
fastest
grabbed
ticking
slowly
listed
flipped
helpful
lips
bags
boxes
helpless
Read the following words out loud.
regrettable
suppressed
permission
incredulous
indentured
popular
philosophical
creativity
illegal
objectify
LETRS Module 12 Assessment
accessible
visionary