Can Do Kids Academy

🧡 Kobi Yamada's, 'Finding Muchness' 🧡


🔎 Is there an digraph in 'been'?
🔎 What does 'been' mean, and how is it pronounced?
🔎 What happens to the meaning of the word ‘be’ when we add the suffix? Is there evidence of this suffix in other words?


🔎 How do we pronounce the base in 'effort', 'comfortable', 'fortify'?
🔎 How are all of these words connected in meaning?
🔎 What is the meaning of ? Why is it in bold in the matrix? Is there evidence of , with this same meaning, in other words?


🔎 Why is there a in 'happy' and an in 'happiness'?
🔎 Why is there a double in ‘happy’?
🔎 How are 'perhaps', 'mishap' and 'happy' connected in meaning?


🔎 What are compounds?
🔎 Is the word ‘splay’ connected in meaning to the word ‘play’?
🔎 Can we put the word ‘display’ in this matrix?

What else do we wonder?

Download this PDF, and loads of others from my website:
www.candokidsacademy.com

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
~ Marcel Proust

⭐️ FOR THE LOVE of WORDS ~ 346 ready-made matrices ⭐️

Word matrices are by far the most requested resource I create - and for good reason!

By presenting words as morphemes within matrices, we can explore the relationships between morphology, etymology, and phonology: how words are constructed and related in meaning ~ how their histories shape their forms ~ how their spellings correspond to their sounds.

MORPHOLOGY 🔍
- Determine if the primary base is free or bound. What is its meaning? Denotation?
- Construct word sums and examine any spelling changes that occur due to suffix conventions.
- Use the constructed words in sentences, identifying their parts of speech.
- How are the constructed words from the matrix connected in meaning?
- Morphological relatives share the same base and root; are there any morphological relatives that are not represented in the matrix?

ETYMOLOGY 🌏
- Investigate the origin of the primary base. Is there an interesting story behind its history?
- Identify the etymological root.
- Look for graphemes that signal etymology; what connections do they reveal?
- Etymological relatives share a root, but typically not a base; are there any etymological relatives? How are they connected in meaning to the primary base?

PHONOLOGY 🗣
- Analyse how the constructed words are pronounced and identify the grapheme-phoneme correspondences.
- Observe any shifts in pronunciation when adding different affixes.
- Identify any graphemes that do not correspond to phonemes. What might they be signalling?

PLEASE NOTE:
While I've poured countless hours into creating this resource, meticulously double, triple, and oftentimes quadruple-checking for accuracy, I don't always get it right!
If you encounter anything within these pages with which you disagree, I encourage you to question, discuss and investigate with your learners. Let it inspire curiosity, conversation and a deeper understanding of how morphology, etymology and phonology work together in teaching our students to read and spell.

For those who've already grabbed this, I'd love to hear your thoughts and how you plan on using it.

For the love of words...and to seeing with new eyes,
Lisa 🙏

Download the PDF straight to your inbox:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/for-the-love-of-words/

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY
September 8

"Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope."
~ Kofi Annan

📖 www.candokidsacademy.com

346 ready-made word matrices 🥳

FOR THE LOVE of WORDS - it's ready!

Word matrices offer a structured, systematic way for us to deconstruct words, delve into their morphemes, origins and pronunciations, and EXPLICITLY teach the foundational aspects of English orthography...

MORPHOLOGY ~ ETYMOLOGY ~ PHONOLOGY

FOR THE LOVE of WORDS:
✔️ 346 ready-made word matrices (free & bound bases)
✔️ colour-coded matrices that systematically build on knowledge
✔️ designed to integrate with any curriculum and scope & sequence
✔️ allows for explicit orthographic instruction in the classroom, for private tutoring, homeschooling, speech therapy, parents...
✔️ adaptable to various teaching styles and learner needs
✔️ suggested activities incorporating morphology, etymology & phonology
✔️ cut-out morphemes to be used on a 'Morphemes We Know' wall display

FULL DISCLAIMER:
I’m not a linguist; I’m a teacher fueled by a love for words. If you encounter anything within these pages with which you disagree, I encourage you to question, discuss, and investigate with your learners. Take note of and modify anything that doesn’t align with your understanding, using it as an opportunity to deepen your own knowledge and that of your students. This resource is a starting point, not a definitive guide - let it inspire curiosity, conversation, and a deeper understanding of how morphology, etymology, and phonology work together in teaching learners to read and spell.

My materials are ever-evolving and evidence of my growth; may yours be, too.

For the love of words, happy learning.
Lisa 😍

Download the PDF from my website and ENJOY!
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/for-the-love-of-words/

3️⃣4️⃣6️⃣ ready-made matrices!

Who's excited????

🟠 INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY ~ September 15ish

A global celebration of creativity, inspired by the children's book 'The Dot' by Peter H. Reynolds.

"The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”.

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing."

If you don't have a copy of The Dot, you'll find a fun online read aloud here.👇
https://www.ryanandcraig.com/blog/2019/2/10/the-dot-by-peter-h-reynolds

Peter Reynolds co-founded International Dot Day with his brother. The event has gained popularity since its inception and has become a global movement that celebrates creativity and encourages all of us to believe in our own potential to create and make a positive mark on the world.

You'll find more information here, with links to posters and student activities. 👇
www.internationaldotday.org/

Here's to connecting, collaborating and creating.
Thank you, Peter Reynolds, for inspiring us all to make our mark.

🟠 www.candokidsacademy.com/product/building-word-sums-from-a-matrix-the-dot/

Get your calendars out, folks!

Lucky for us, Kylie's offering up another online class. If you're looking to learn more about using word sums, matrices and Etymonline with your students, get yourselves registered:

WORD STUDY TOOLS FOR SPELLING & VOCABULARY

Thank you, Kylie - I can't wait!
🥳

💙💛💚🩷 online PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT opportunity "Word Study Tools for Spelling & Vocabulary" (live + access to the recording)

Join me to learn everything you need to know about the processes & protocols for using a range of word study tools that support the teaching & learning of spelling & vocabulary!

Tuesday September 3rd & 10th @ 7pm - 8:30pm AEST (3hrs over 2 x 1.5hr sessions)
$70 per participant
Online via Zoom (live + access to the recording)
Email me to register at [email protected]

It's a !

www.candokidsacademy.com

CBCA's Children's Book Week
17 - 23 August, 2024
Theme: Reading is Magic 🪄

Included in this FREE 20-page bundle, you'll find a word matrix for the free base , activities where students can build both analytic and synthetic word sums, morphemes that can be cut out and manipulated to create word sums and build words, plenty of colouring to get creative AND one of my most favourite BOOKMARKS!

What do your students notice?

Why no suffix in this matrix?
What phonemes can the represent within this word family?

Download this free PDF from here...
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/reading-is-magic/

CBCA's Children's Book Week
17 - 23 August, 2024
Theme: Reading is Magic 🪄

If you're looking for the perfect book to share with your students this week, I've got you!

'When You Open a Book'
By Caroline Derlatka & Sara Ugolotti

"When you open a book, you can journey so far - to the depths of an ocean or far distant star.

For you unlock magic that's hidden within, and opening the cover is where you begin."

Included in this FREE 20-page bundle, you'll find a word matrix for the free base , activities where students can build both analytic and synthetic word sums, morphemes that can be cut out and manipulated to create word sums and build words, plenty of colouring to get creative AND one of my most favourite BOOKMARKS!

I especially like investigating this word when looking at digraph . What do your students notice?

Why no suffix in this matrix?
What phonemes can the represent within this word family?

Please share the magic with all your teacher friends! 🪄

Download this free PDF from here...
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/reading-is-magic/

August 18, 2024
NEVER GIVE UP DAY

Let's celebrate today with a little bit of Peter H. Reynolds and big!

And while we're at it, what do we notice?

⭐️ suffix vs.
⭐️ change to suffix convention
⭐️ agent suffix
⭐️ comparative suffixes and
⭐️ compounds

Find out more about 'Never Give Up Day' from here:
www.nevergiveupday.com/

And download this free PDF from the CDK site:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/dream-2/

Another beauty by Kelly Canby...
"Littlelight"

Dive into COMPOUNDS with chains and webs - FREE download from the Can Do Kids site:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/compounds-light/

And as a bonus, grab teaching notes and a wordsearch from these links - thank you Freemantle Press and Kelly Canby!

💡https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LITTLELIGHT_teaching_notes_.pdf

💡https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Littlelight_ActivitySheet_PRINT.pdf

⭐️ CBCA PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR ⭐️
'Timeless'
By: Kelly Canby

"Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit's brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything at all.

Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, he tries to catch it, wait for it, but it's not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you have to make it."
- Freemantle Press

Another 'timeless' treasure to add to your collection!

And as a bonus, there are some fabulous extras from Fremantle Press!
✔️ Teaching Notes:https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TN_Timeless-1.pdf

✔️ Activities:https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Timeless_ActivitySheet_ONLINE-1.pdf

✔️ And a peek inside the book:https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SC_Timeless.pdf

You'll also find this free PDF on my site - enjoy!
https://www.candokidsacademy.com/product/time/

How many of us have come across teacher and student resources discussing suffix ?

act + ion --> action

What evidence do we have for suffix ?

I've included two matrices/sets of activities in this kit, one more complex than the other, so we can meet our learners where they're at.

is one of my most favourite words to investigate; I hope you and your students enjoy the deep dive as much as I do.

Download CDKs latest 47-pager from here - FREE. 😎
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-kit-act/

BTW, has anyone used any of the other Word Study Kits recently added to my site? If so, we'd love to hear what you and your students think - please share. 🙏

I've had to how I teach my students to read and spell...and I've never looked back.

Download this PDF as part of CDK's biggest bundle.
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/cdk-system-a-place-to-start/

✔ word study terminology: definitions, explanations, examples
✔ voiced vs. unvoiced consonants
✔ syllables & schwa
✔ matrix creation & building word sums
✔ tips on using Etymonline, Word Searcher & Mini-Matrix Maker
✔ suffix conventions
✔ silent final roles
✔ numerous word studies
✔ mentor texts with detailed lessons
✔ updated CDK Non-Negotiables
✔ BONUS: 25 additional matrices for further word study
✔️ and SO much more!

Let's investigate ...

Why is there a silent final in 'please'?
🙏 please vs. pleas

Why digraph and not ?
🙏 pleasant, pleasure

Why suffix and not ?
🙏 vs.
HINT: syllables and syllable counting

What's a schwa?
🙏 pleases
HINT: syllables again!

Does always represent /s/?
🙏 pleases - pleasures

Is there a change in spelling when there's a change in pronunciation?
🙏 please - pleasure

Some sources consider 'unpleased' archaic; what does that mean?
🙏 unpleased vs. displeased

Is the second in 'pleased' part of the base or suffix?
🙏 please + ed --> pleased

Why is the silent final in 'please' replaced in 'pleasing'?
🙏 please + ing --> pleasing

Download CDK's newest 20-page resource from here:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-kit-please/

Happy weekend, all!
🥳

It's amazing what we can and learn by taking a closer look at just one word and its family.

⭐️ graphs vs. digraphs vs. trigraphs
⭐️ when to use vs.
⭐️ representing /k/ and its etymology
⭐️ syllables and stress
⭐️ syllable counting in speech
⭐️ schwa
⭐️ suffix vs.
⭐️ agent suffix
⭐️ compounds

Aussies (and Brits? Kiwis?...who else?) can also investigate HOMOPHONES!

For most Aussies, the words 'teaches' and 'teachers' are homophones; they're pronounced the same, have different meanings and different spellings.

It's not until we dive deeper into the meanings of these two words that their different spellings can be explained and understood.

teach + es --> teaches
teach + er + s --> teachers

As a and a learner, nothing beats this depth of understanding.

MORPHOLOGY for the win!

Happy all! 😎

Download CDK's latest free resource from this link.
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-kit-teach/

For those wanting a bit more of an idea of what's included in my resource from yesterday's post...

Please shout out if you have any questions.

Download the PDF (250+ pages) from here...
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/cdk-system-a-place-to-start/

Not sure where to start?

Whether you’re eager to deepen your understanding of English orthography, seeking insights and ideas to share with colleagues, parents, or students, or searching for materials to take your teaching to the next level, you’ll find everything you need here...

✔️ print
✔️ bind
✔️ display holder (Officeworks $15 😍)

Included within these 250+ pages:
✔ Word study terminology: definitions, explanations, examples
✔ Voiced vs. unvoiced consonants
✔ Syllables & schwa
✔ Matrix creation & building word sums
✔ Tips on using Etymonline, Word Searcher & Mini-Matrix Maker
✔ Suffix conventions
✔ Silent final roles
✔ Numerous word studies
✔ Mentor texts with detailed lessons
✔ Updated CDK Non-Negotiables
✔ Bonus: 25 additional matrices for further word study
✔️ and SO much more!

Download your digital PDF from here:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/cdk-system-a-place-to-start/

"If the spelling system contains such regularity, why is there such a problem?

The answer is complex, but a major factor is that children are rarely taught HOW to spell..."

~ David Crystal

MORPHOLOGY ~ ETYMOLOGY ~ PHONOLOGY

word families = meaning connection

I couldn't love this more, Kylie Conrad - Literacy Links Specialist Teacher! 🤩

🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗
WORDS, like people, come in FAMILIES!
🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗

Teach words within the context of their morphological families for more meaning-centred, system-wide orthographic up-skilling, as well as aiding orthographic mapping & vocabulary links for comprehension!

Family members have meaningful connections between them.
Members of word families share a base, which is the foundation of a word's spelling, meaning & history.

family/i + es —> families
family/i + ar + ise —> familiarise
family/i + ar + i + ty —> familiarity
family/i + ar + ise/ + ate/ + ion —> familiarisation

I love exploring this word family with students because of the words it generates, the orthographic concepts it requires, and the opportunities to marvel at the evolution of its meaning over time since its Latin roots. Check it out!

You can download this resource as a FREE PDF from my website.
https://www.literacylinks.com.au/literacy-resources

I would be so very grateful if you'd consider sharing it with others you think might find it helpful, as well as following/liking my page if you don't already. 🙏☺️

As a lifelong learner, this resource reflects my current understanding at a particular point in time.

🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗🩶🔗

Our TERMINOLOGY matters.

Grab this 4-page summary to use as a quick reference:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-terminology-4-page-summary/

The GIANT wall display, perfect for classrooms, staff rooms & offices:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/wall-display-word-study-terminology/

Or both as a BUNDLE:
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-terminology-bundle/

💛 "These are truly FANTASTIC! I have them visible at all times, and it's been so helpful as a quick reference guide without having to flip through a folder to find the answer I need."

💛 "I'm feeling more confident in my teaching of morphology now. It has taken a while for me to trust my gut and go with the flow of my students more."

💛 "The layout is easy to follow and each card is information rich!"

💛 "Phenomenal resources backed by hours of study and knowledge development. THANK YOU!"

MORPHOLOGY ~ ETYMOLOGY ~ PHONOLOGY

The NSW Dept of Ed's suggested K-2 Instructional Sequence has the digraph being taught in the first eleven weeks of kindergarten.

For those interested in a closer look, here's the link...https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/key-learning-areas/english/media/documents/english-k-2-gpc-instructional-sequence.pdf

You'll notice a number of other concepts included in that suggested sequence in the first year of school:

* suffix showing verb tense & plural noun
* when to use suffix vs.
* suffixes and showing verb tense
* silent final signalling the preceding vowel as 'long'
* silent final preventing words from ending in
* compounds & homophones
* voiced vs. unvoiced phonemes

My newest 26-page resource is with: examples of word webs (brainstorm vs. sort), matrices, analytic and synthetic word sums, morphemes for cutting out, and blank templates for use with any base.

Note that I've included two different matrices for the free base : one where a spelling change occurs (replace the final ) and one where it doesn't. The idea behind this is so we can meet our students where they're at.

The more we understand the logic behind our spelling system, the better we will teach it.

morphology ~ etymology ~ phonology

I've just uploaded this free PDF onto my site; I hope it's useful.
🙏

www.candokidsacademy.com/product/word-study-kit-pack/

do + es --> does
do + ing --> doing


say + s --> says
say + ing --> saying

Why isn't it 'duz' or 'sez'?

It's the explanations that help the spellings stick.

You can find this free PDF, along with plenty of other explanations, on my site.
www.candokidsacademy.com

'The Dot'
by Peter H. Reynolds.

"The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”.

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing."

Here's to connecting, collaborating and creating.

Thank you Peter Reynolds, for inspiring us all to make our mark.

🟠 www.candokidsacademy.com/product/building-word-sums-from-a-matrix-the-dot/

‘Ada Twist, Scientist'
by Andrea Beaty

Ada notices everything and is endlessly curious, always questioning WHY things are the way they are.

"Ada Marie did what scientists do:
She asked a small question, and then she asked two,
And each of those led her to three questions more,
and some of those questions resulted in four."

As word scientists, we need to follow Ada's lead.

Why are some words spelled with an initial digraph? 🔍

Well, words were once pronounced as /hw/ in Old English.

While researching for this resource, I discovered that some dialects, particularly those of Scotland, Ireland and Southern US continue to pronounce words with this more traditional /hw/ - more evidence that our language is still evolving - how cool! 😎

Apologies to those who use this /hw/ pronunciation, as I haven't included it in this resource. In saying that, I have no doubt it would still lead to some wonderful questioning, discussion and discoveries.

It's my hope with all of my resources, that they'll encourage our kids - and us - to ask more questions. In many instances, our questioning leads to more questions with no solid answers - and that's okay. It's in the inquiry, and the search for answers, where our understanding deepens and our desire to learn more becomes stronger.

Make some room for Ada Twist in your "favourites" pile! She's a beautiful reminder of the power of curiosity, wonder and investigation.

Download the free PDF here…
www.candokidsacademy.com/product/ada-twist-scientist-wh-digraph/

Don't you love a good jaw-drop? 😲

www.candokidsacademy.com/product/jaw-drop/

"What can we do to make the task of learning to spell easier?
My answer is in a word: EXPLAIN it...
Explaining why words are spelled the way they are can help us remember them. The stories behind the spellings are often fascinating, and interest adds motivation."
~ David Crystal
'Spell it Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling'

'jaw-drop' (noun)
A moment of sudden realisation when the spelling or meaning of a word finally makes sense due to an EXPLANATION, often accompanied by a wide-eyed, open-mouthed gasp and a feeling of enlightenment.
~ CDK Dictionary

There's no better reward than a student 'jaw-drop'! 😲

MORPHOLOGY ~ ETYMOLOGY ~ PHONOLOGY

For the love of WORDS! 🩵

Make some space on your shelf for this one - it's another beauty.

'The Dictionary of Difficult Words'
by Jane Solomon

OED ~ OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

My online subscription to the OED is one of my favourites in my teaching and learning toolkit.

Here in NSW, I applied online for a State Library Card number. Within a day, I received my number, and voila - FREE access!

If you're elsewhere, it's definitely worth a quick Google - find your local library and enquire.

For those in NSW, here are the links...

Sign up for your NSW State Library Card:
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/research-and-collections/get-library-card/sign-library-card

Log in to the online OED with your NSW State Library Card number:
https://eresources.sl.nsw.gov.au/oxford-english-dictionary-online-oed-oxford-university-press

If you already use the online OED, we'd love to hear your thoughts and where in the world you reside.
📖🧐

Find out more about the online OED from Abraham Piper...
🎥 https://youtu.be/hb7XD3apSdc?si=I0kYg7v6PAUatmVY