What strategy should students use to recognize longer, more difficult words effectively utilizing their knowledge of affixes?

The recommended strategy of isolating and reading any prefix or suffix before attempting the root word is highly effective because it breaks down complex words into manageable parts. By recognizing and understanding the meanings of affixes—prefixes and suffixes—students can gain critical insights into the overall meaning of the word. This method allows learners to access their prior knowledge regarding common affixes, which often carry specific meanings and can provide context about the word's usage.

For instance, if students encounter the word "unhappiness," they can first identify the prefix "un-" indicating negation and the suffix "-ness" implying a state or condition. This understanding can greatly help in deducing that the root "happy" refers to a state involving joy, and the complete word describes a state of not being happy. Thus, this approach effectively enhances comprehension and retention of longer, more challenging words by leveraging an understanding of word structure.

Other approaches, such as reading the word in its entirety without pauses, may lead to confusion, especially if the student is not familiar with the word. Ignoring prefixes and suffixes neglects valuable clues about meaning. Finally, relying solely on pictures to guess the meaning can limit a student’s ability to decipher unfamiliar words independently and reduces engagement with the