lesson
Find the familiar part
1 · Learn
A word can have a root you already know. In helpful, help is the root and -ful is a suffix. A suffix goes at the end. In unhelpful, un- is a prefix at the beginning.
Look carefully at all the letters, say the parts, then blend the whole word. Knowing the parts can help with meaning, but check the sentence too.
2 · Worked example
In 'The helpful guide showed the path', helpful means giving help. Unhelpful would describe someone or something that did not help.
3 · Your turn
Read 'The boy reread the note.' What does reread mean? Which part suggests this?
Check your answer
It means read again. The prefix re- often means again.
4 · Apply your learning
With an adult, read play, played, playing and playful. Explain how each ending changes the word in a sentence.
Adult guidance and safety
Read aloud together where needed. Discuss more than one reasonable answer to open questions. These short original texts support, but do not replace, whole books, oral discussion, a school-matched phonics programme where needed, or regular handwriting and spelling practice.
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