With your help, we can improve literacy instruction in every classroom. Support Reading Universe!

Skill Explainer

3.2 Explicitly Teach Prefixes

Prefixes Skill Explainer

Teacher holding a flashcard for the prefix 'un-' to her forehead.
Photo by Tanya Martineau

You'll be introducing prefixes to your students one at a time, one per lesson. (You may have noticed this in your curriculum!) Here are the prefixes we've included in this skill explainer:

You'll find a separate page for teaching each prefix — with detailed explanations that include pronunciation, meaning, and examples. You'll also find lesson plans, support, and guidance for explicit instruction.

Teacher Tip

Prefix Notation and Pronunciation
When you see a prefix in quotations, for example 're-', you say the letter names: 'r', 'e'. When teaching prefixes, we don't teach students that the prefix is pronounced a certain way, because when prefixes are added to base words, they can sound different. For example, the prefix 're-' says /rē/ in the word replay, but it says /rĕ/ in the word reference.

Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale; the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (opens in new window); the AFT (opens in new window); the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation (opens in new window); and three anonymous donors.