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EVERY CLASSROOM NEEDS SAYWORD!
"Teaching morphology has been shown to improve students reading, spelling, and vocabulary skills."
Bowers, P.N., & Kirby, J. R. (2010)
Unlike traditional word games, SAYWORD!®️ enhances vocabulary by teaching the decoding of words through morphology and etymology. Morphemes, such as prefixes and suffixes, are fundamental units in English words. They extend and alter the meaning of root words to which they are attached. Root words themselves can often be dissected into smaller roots, a process known as etymology. Understanding the etymology of morphemes allows us to uncover deeper meanings in familiar words and decipher unfamiliar ones.
For instance, take the word “TELEVISION,” composed of three morphemes: TELE, VIS, and ION. Translated individually as “DISTANT,” “SIGHT,” and “STATE OF,” respectively, the word "television" crudely translates to “the state of distant sight” or “seeing from a distance.” Developing morphological awareness not only enhances vocabulary acquisition but also surpasses basic phonics, significantly accelerating learning.
"Teaching morphology can bridge the gap for struggling readers by providing strategies to decode and understand unfamiliar words"
Apel, K., & Diehm, E (2014)
Traditional methods of learning to read often rely on memorization and repetition, which can be challenging given the complexity of the English language, comprising over 170,000 words with multiple meanings. SAYWORD!®️ offers a revolutionary approach to enhancing reading and comprehension skills rapidly.
SAYWORD!®️ simplifies the decoding of words with its unique set of cards, each capable of decoding over 10,000 words. For instance, understanding that the root “LEG” signifies “speak, say, the word, the law” allows partial decoding of more than 1,000 words. Similarly, grasping the meaning of “LOG” unlocks partial definitions for over 5,000 words. With 144 cards, SAYWORD!®️ enables users to construct every English word in an engaging, game-like format.
Playing SAYWORD!®️ regularly can:
- Boost reading confidence
- Expand vocabulary through morphology and etymology
- Enhance proficiency in popular word games
- Improve scores on standardized tests
- Enhance reading comprehension, speed, and fluency
- Foster better understanding of legal documents
When it comes to literacy, SAYWORD!®️ is a transformative tool. Let’s embark on mastering thousands of words together!
The SCience of READING
SAYWORD! aligns seamlessly with the Science of Reading, encompassing essential components vital for developing proficient reading skills. Central to this approach is morphology, the study of how words are structured and formed from morphemes—the smallest units of meaning.
Morphology plays a critical role in literacy by empowering readers to decode unfamiliar words, grasp their meanings, and discern how words transform to convey different contexts or grammatical functions. This understanding significantly enhances vocabulary growth, reading comprehension, and overall literacy proficiency.
Integrating SAYWORD! into reading instruction provides invaluable support to students in navigating complex words, improving spelling, and enhancing fluency. By exploring prefixes, suffixes, roots, and their combinations, students can efficiently comprehend and retain new vocabulary, fostering effective reading habits across various subjects.
BUILT-IN SCAFFOLDING
In education, scaffolding refers to providing structured, progressively challenging tasks to students, aiming to foster independent understanding. SAYWORD!®️ incorporates scaffolding directly into its gameplay. By progressing through levels of increasing difficulty—KNOCKOUT, BOX, STACK & STEAL—players enhance their understanding and awareness of etymology and morphology.
This structured approach ensures that each game session builds on previous knowledge, strengthening students' ability to decode words and comprehend their meanings. Incorporating SAYWORD!®️ into lessons supports a structured pathway to literacy development, promoting deeper engagement and skill advancement among learners.
KNOCKOUT
STACK & STEAL
KNOCKOUT
KNOCKOUT transforms how your brain organizes vocabulary by focusing on meaning rather than context. Typically, our brains categorize words like shirt, cap, pant, and sweater based on context. In KNOCKOUT, players learn to access words through word families—groups sharing common morphemes and etymological roots.
Introducing KNOCKOUT to students, especially those under 10 years old, is best done in teams using the FREE PLAY rules. This approach fosters collaborative learning and reinforces vocabulary development in a structured, engaging manner.
BOX
STACK & STEAL
KNOCKOUT
The BOX game enhances vocabulary by linking multiple word families. Building on the foundation laid by KNOCKOUT, BOX challenges players to recall words that share two or more word families. This encourages exploration of roots and often leads to the discovery of new words. Introducing wild cards fosters creativity, while the concept of bluffing adds an exciting element to the SAYWORD! game.
STACK & STEAL
STACK & STEAL
STACK & STEAL
STACK & STEAL encourages exploration through constructing and reconstructing new words. With proficiency in encoding and decoding, players build increasingly complex words and challenge their intellect against peers. Each drawn card prompts players to reconsider and adjust previously created words. The game also promotes skills in bluffing, stealing, challenging, and debating, fostering development in logic and social-emotional learning.
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS
COMMON CORE standards
SAYWORD!®️ aligns with Common Core Standards for vocabulary and can be used in every content area. SAYWORD!®️ not only helps teachers teach these standards, it also makes it addictively fun!
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
4b. Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
4b. Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word.
4c. Identify frequently occurring root words (e.g., look) and their inflectional forms (e.g., looks, looked, looking).
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word (e.g., happy/unhappy, tell/retell).
4c. Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., addition, additional).
4d. Use knowledge of the meaning of individual words to predict the meaning of compound words (e.g., birdhouse, lighthouse, housefly; bookshelf, notebook, bookmark).
4e. Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases.
Reading Standards: Foundational Skills (K–5)
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Phonics and Word Recognition
3a. Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
3b. Decode words with common Latin suffixes.
3c. Decode multi-syllable words.
3d. Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known affix is added to a known word (e.g., agreeable/disagreeable, comfortable/uncomfortable, care/careless, heat/preheat).
4c. Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., company, companion).
4d. Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
Reading Standards: Foundational Skills (K–5)
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Phonics and Word Recognition
3a. Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
Reading Standards: Foundational Skills (K–5)
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Phonics and Word Recognition
3a. Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6–12
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Text Types and Purposes
2d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6–12
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Text Types and Purposes
2d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6–12
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Text Types and Purposes
2d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).
4c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology.
4d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6–12
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Text Types and Purposes
2d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic and convey a style appropriate to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
4b. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).
4c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology.
4d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6–12
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Text Types and Purposes
2d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic and convey a style appropriate to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
In-person gameplay promotes social-emotional learning (SEL) through various interactive and cooperative elements intrinsic to gaming experiences. SAYWORD! is engaging and require players to communicate, negotiate, and problem-solve together. This fosters interpersonal skills such as empathy, and conflict resolution.
SAYWORD! involves rule-following and fair play, which cultivates self-regulation and responsible decision-making. Players learn to manage emotions like frustration and excitement within a structured environment, enhancing emotional resilience.
As students play SAYWORD!, they learn to cope with both success and failure graciously. This builds empathy towards others' experiences, nurtures friendships, and creates a sense of belonging. These connections contribute significantly to emotional well-being and overall social development.
SAYWORD! serves as a powerful platform for SEL, integrating cognitive, emotional, and social skills crucial for navigating interpersonal relationships and succeeding in diverse social contexts.
Get SAYWORD! Classic
$24.99 USD
A game of words, wisdom, bluffing, and balderdash! Get ready to build words, break words, and fake out your friends. This is the most fun way to upgrade your intellect. You will never look at words the same way again...