Explicitly Teach the Prefix 'pre-'

The prefix 'pre-' is a morpheme that means "before" or "in advance." You can add the prefix 'pre-' to nouns to show that something comes before something else:

nouns
pre + school = preschool (before school)
pre + test = pretest (a test before another one)

When you add the prefix 'pre-' to verbs, you show that an action happened before something else:

verbs
pre + heat = preheat (to heat something before you use it)
pre + view = preview (to see something before)

When teaching the prefixes, we usually don't teach students that the prefix makes a specific sound. That's because the pronunciation can change depending on the base word. For example, 'pre-' is pronounced /prē/, like in pretest, or /prĕ/, like in preface.

When we teach it or talk about it with our students, we spell it out: "the prefix 'p', 'r', 'e'." It sounds like this:

Now it's time to teach!

This is the prefix 'pre-'.

The prefix 'p-r-e' means "before" or "in advance."

Repeat.

Students repeat,

The prefix 'p-r-e' means "before" or "in advance."

Write the word cut on the board.

Ask,

If I add the prefix 'pre-' to the word cut, what is the new word?

Students answer,

precut

Say,

Yes, precut, like in the sentence: “We will precut the materials for the craft.” The word precut has the prefix 'pre-', which tells us that we will cut the materials before we start the craft.
Let's say the word again together.

Students respond,

precut

Ask,

What is the prefix in this word?

Students answer,

'pre-'

Now, grab your prefix 'pre-' flash card.

Say,

Remember, unlike our letters, patterns, and suffix cards, we don't say what the prefix “says” when we show the prefix card, because the sound can change depending on the word it's added to. When we see a prefix card, we will spell the prefix and say the letter names.
Watch and listen to what we will say when we see this card. The prefix 'pre-' means "before" or "in advance."

Say and have students repeat,

The prefix 'pre-' means "before" or "in advance."

Write the following words on the board one at a time and have students read them aloud chorally:

test, heat, drill

Then add the prefix 'pre-' to each word and have students read the new words. Discuss how the meanings of the words changed when you added the prefix.

Try the Reading Universe's lesson plan!
This explicit teaching example aligns with the Reading Universe printable lesson plan for the prefix 'pre-' (opens in new window). You'll find dictation practice in the lesson plan and an explanation of how this works in the section Dictating Words with Prefixes.

3.7 Explicitly Teach the Prefix 'pre-'

Prefixes Skill Explainer

Now it's time to teach!