A student and a teacher are sitting at a table. The student is giving a thumbs up and the teacher is holding up a paper with a word family written on it.

Cracking the Code with Word Families

Word families were introduced in a previous Back to Basics post outlining word attack strategies. Word families are groups of words that share a common root or base. They follow a similar pattern or have the same ending such as -ain or -ound. Since they are related by a combination of letters and sounds, it is easier for us to understand and use them in various contexts. Word families are excellent examples of the connection between the spoken word and the written text.

“Word families (also known as phonograms or ‘chunks’) can really help your students ‘crack the code’ of our inconsistent language by providing some predictable patterns within words.” – Literacy Connections

Recognizing word families helps student decode more effectively by analyzing the patterns of sounds within words.

Word families also promote vocabulary expansion. When a learner explores related words within a family, they gain a deeper understanding of nuanced meanings. This also improves their ability to communicate effectively. For example, in the “joy” word family, we find words like “enjoyable,” “joyful,” and “rejoice.” Each word conveys a unique aspect of happiness or delight.

Additionally, word families are not confined to the English language; they are found in many languages. Learning about word families in different languages can not only expand learners’ vocabulary but also deepen their appreciation for linguistic diversity.

Teaching word families should be explicit. As the educator, clearly demonstrate, then provide opportunities for practice and feedback, and then gradually support more independence in your learners. Word families lend themselves well to gamification which helps maintain engagement.

Word families are a great decoding tool to help increase language proficiency. To learn more about word families, and for some ideas for activities, check out the resources below.