®

Program Overview
Grades 4–11

Strategic vocabulary instruction

through Greek and Latin roots

Aligned to the
ommon Core
STATE STANDARDS
 ®

What is Vocabulary from Classical Roots®?

Vocabulary from Classical Roots is a challenging vocabulary series for grades 4–11.
Strategies are taught for determining unknown word meanings using Greek and Latin
roots. Knowledge of Greek and Latin roots helps increase vocabulary and reading
comprehens-ion, providing students with a useful, transferable technique for making
sense of unfamiliar vocabulary across content areas and on standardized tests
including the SAT I and II. In addition to each of the student books, the series also
includes assessments that cover every word in each lesson. The teacher’s key includes
teaching suggestions, a glossary of literary and historical references, and answer keys.

Vocabulary from Classical Roots is based on the latest research about best practices
in vocabulary development. To download a copy of the research base, visit
epsbooks.com/Research.

Test Generator
Customize your own personal tests and quizzes to accompany your Vocabulary from
Classical Roots lessons. This flexible assessment tool provides a wide variety of prewritten
questions to choose from. Ready-to-use tests are also available to help teachers save
valuable time.

How is Vocabulary from Classical Roots organized?

Each of the eight student books in Vocabulary from Classical • A list of “Familiar Words” and “Challenge Words” in sidebars.
Roots is designed for one grade level. The complete series This allows for differentiated instruction and provides increased
spans grades 4-11. opportunities for vocabulary development.
• Book 4, Grade 4 • Book 5, Grade 5 • Book 6, Grade 6 • Exercise A asks students to apply their knowledge of roots by
• Book A, Grade 7 • Book B, Grade 8 • Book C, Grade 9 identifying synonyms and antonyms of key words presented in
• Book D, Grade 10 • Book E, Grade 11 context.
• Exercise B asks students to identify the sentence in which a key
Each lesson in Vocabulary from Classical Roots is based on a
word is used incorrectly. This type of exercise helps prepare
specific theme such as “Nature” or “The Law.”
students for similar exercises often found on standardized tests.
Each lesson consists of between 2-4 roots and 8-15 words. All • Exercise C asks students to think critically by completing
lessons have the following format: sentences with the correct form of the key words. Students must
derive meaning from context as well as cross-reference word
• An introduction to the selected roots and 8-15 words.
knowledge with syntax.
Dictionary-style definitions include pronunciations, parts of
speech, illustrative sentences, and multiple word forms. • Exercise D (in Books D and E only) gives students the
opportunity to experience and apply context through short
reading passages.

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 Features for You Benefits for Your Students
Literary, historical, and geographical references are Students are able to make connections across content areas and increase
included throughout the lessons. their cultural and historical understanding.

Writing is integrated with vocabulary development; every lesson provides Students develop their ability to respond to writing prompts incorporating
expository and creative writing prompts. key vocabulary – skills commonly encountered on standardized tests.
Special “Nota Bene” sections provide interesting and Students gain a better understanding of word origins and the evolution of
valuable information about word histories and etymologies. language as well as clarification of commonly confused words.
Words are presented in multiple forms and with multiple definitions for Students are able to challenge themselves with additional words and word
vocabulary development that far exceeds the 240 key words. forms and significantly increase vocabulary.

Scope and Sequence

Theme Roots Include Theme Roots Include
Good Sense Across Sens, grad, -ly Numbers unus, duo, bi, tri

Book E – Grade 11 Book D – Grade 10 Book C – Grade 9 Book B – Grade 8 Book A – Grade 7
the Grades All or Nothing omnis, totus
Moving Toward Numbers Mot, numer, -less More or Less megas, poly
Delighted with Questions Ques, deli, -ful Before and After ante, pre, post
Book 4 – Grade 4

A Bit of Kindness Part, grac, -ness Creativity canto, facio, texo

Different Ways to Serve Vari, serv, -ous Travel trans, tele, via
Finishing with Ease Eas, fin, -er/-est Sports curro, salio
Special Families Famil, speci, -ly Animals felis, leo, piscis
Action in the Office Offic, act, -ive Motion per, sub
Stating What to Deliver Stat, trad, -al Position extra, medius
Grateful for Classes Grat, class, -tude Joining cum, jungo
Organized to Solve Organ, prob, -ism Separation super, solvo
Problems
Sight video, specto
Locating Top Technical Skills Loc, techn,
The Other Senses sono, voco, tango
Going in Circles circ, cycl, uni-, bi-, tri-
Emotions pro, volo, zelos
Balancing Evenly equ, pend, quadr-
Moving Across and Between trans, inter, sect The Shapes of Things circum, figura
Looking at Our Planet terr, aqua, marin The Person humanus, anthropos, femina
Book 5 – Grade 5

Exploring Distant Places astr, tele, scope Personal Relationships mater, pater, frater
Changing Meaning (with semi-, in-, ig-, il-, im-, Feelings philos, phobos
Prefixes) ir-, dis-, non-, un- Creature Comforts dormio, lavo
Creating Order civi, ord, -ity The Head cerebrum, dens
Measuring in Math therm, metr/meter, kilo- The Body corpus, derma
and Science and milli- The Hands manus, dextra, digitus
Pulling Together struct, tract, ex- The Feet pes, ambulo
Cracking Open rupt, frac/frag , -ment Believing divino, theos
Placing the Foundation bas, pos, -ure Thinking and Knowing mnemonikos, scio
Connecting (with Prefixes) re-, com-/con-, col-, co-, cor- Reading and Writing littera, scribo, logos
Seeing vis, spect, super- Speaking dico, glossa, lingua
Hearing audi, phon, -orium/-arium Earth and Air terra, humus, anima
Speaking voc, dict, pre- Fire and Water flamma, pons
Writing scrib/scrip as in scribe, script, Order and Disorder ordo, kosmos
Book 6 – Grade 6

graph, auto-, bio- in the Universe

Connecting soci, mem, -logy/-logist Time tempus, novus, neos
Lowering (with Prefixes) de-, sub-, pro- Here and There inter, pono
Sending port, mis/mit, -ion Government demos, polis
Turning vers/vert, contr, di-/dis- Up and Down scala, sub
Handling man, sol/solv, ped Business sumo, acer
Belonging poli, gen, nat, -ician, -er, -or Light and Dark lumen, monstro
Illuminating spir, photo, flam, per- Open and Shut apo, castus, dia
Changing (with Suffixes) -ize, -ible/-able, Military Matters fortis, pungo
-ible or -able Good and Bad bene, male
The Law lego, juro

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 Vocabulary from Classical Roots Tests

Blackline master test books are available for all Vocabulary from Classical Roots student books. These reproducible tests
include question types commonly found on standardized tests and cover every key word in every lesson. Questions include
multiple-choice sentence completions, analogies, and multiple choice questions. More challenging exercises in Test Book
E ask students to provide the meaning of an unknown word using a known root, which helps students transfer and apply
their knowledge. Like the student books, the test questions often include historical and cultural information. As an assess-
ment tool, the Vocabulary from Classical Roots tests are invaluable; as an experience for students they are like the books—
challenging, interesting, and fun. (See page 15 for a description of the Online Test Generator.)

How do I fit Vocabulary from Classical Roots into my curriculum?

Vocabulary from Classical Roots can be easily incorporated into any language arts curriculum. The student books can
be used to teach valuable vocabulary strategies as well as word origins and etymologies. The books can be used
independently or as part of a larger language arts or spelling program. The exercises can be assigned as homework,
small group work, or they can be incorporated into a whole class lesson.

Skills Covered

Greek and Latin roots

Word origins and etymologies
®
Synonyms and antonyms
Analogies
Word usage
Go to epsbooks.com/VCR Word forms
to find: Common Core and State Standards
Critical thinking
Sample lessons • Research paper
Dictionary and glossary use
Editing sentences
Homophones
Multiple meanings
Parts of speech
Sample Lessons and Tests Prefixes
Try a lesson from Vocabulary from Classical Roots with Suffixes
your students. Go to epsbooks.com/VCR and download Spelling
the lesson from the book level you need. You’ll find free Syllables
Lessons, Answer Keys, and Tests for many of the books Test taking/assessment
in the series! Writing

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 Book 5

Familiar Words provided

for each root help students
activate prior knowledge and
meet curriculum standards.

Challenge Words for each

root give teachers the
opportunity to help students
expand their vocabulary
beyond curriculum standards.

Key Words include high-utility

roots and affixes that link to
grade-level standards and
content-area curriculum.

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 Book 6

Extend Your Vocabulary

exercises help students use root
and affix clues to determine the Pictures and
meaning of unfamiliar words. descriptive
sentences aid
comprehension.

Using Root Clues exercises

provide students with
strategies to unlock the
meaning of unknown words.

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Book A

Exercises increase
understanding and help
familiarize students with
question types often
encountered on
standardized tests.

“Familiar” and “Challenge”

words allow students to use
prior knowledge and extend
their understanding beyond
the key words.

“Nota Bene” sections give useful

hints about word etymologies and
commonly confused words.

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 Book B

Built-in review
promotes
retention.

Writing and discussion

activities provide useful
extensions and develop
critical thinking.

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Thematic
organization
allows students to
make connections
and understand
relationships among
words.

Book C

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Book D

Dictionary-style definitions
give pronunciation, parts
of speech, and multiple
word forms.

Writing and discussion activities help

prepare students for writing prompts
encountered on standardized tests.

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Books D and E include
extended reading
passages using the
words in context.

Book E

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Teacher’s Guide and Answer Key Book B

Teacher guides provide

additional strategies
and classroom activities
to promote vocabulary
acquisition.

Reproducible key word

activities provide engaging
homework exercises that
strengthen the understanding
of key words.

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 Test Book A

Analogies using list words

promote critical thinking skills.

Cloze procedure
provides reinforcements
for using context clues.

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 Questions promote inferential
thinking and encourage students
to apply knowledge of roots
learned throughout the lessons.

Test Book C

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 Vocabulary from Classical Roots® Test Generator

For a demonstration, visit

Test Generator epsbooks.com/TestGen
Building a customized test is only a few clicks away!
Utilize ready-to-use tests or create your own tests by selecting the vocabulary words and questions you want from an extensive data
bank. The Test Generator provides a formatted test and answer key—ready to print and use! This online resource allows you to:
• Create unlimited tests and quizzes • Choose words from any lesson(s) for targeted review
• Vary test length to match student needs • Customize tests by class
• Save prep time by electronically storing tests for reuse • Provide students with practice for standardized tests

A wide variety of
pre-written questions
allow you to create your
own customized tests
and quizzes.

Ready-To-Use Tests provide

two tests for each lesson,
saving teachers valuable time.

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Also available for Grades 2–11
Build comprehension skills with
reading selections across content areas

Reading
Comprehension
in Varied Subject Matter
This series is particularly useful for students of varying reading abilities.
The consistent format allows students in the same class to use different levels.
■■ Build literal and inferential reading comprehension skills
■■ Content-area topics provide cross-curricular reading practice
■■ Build essential vocabulary skills in context

MORE Reading Comprehension, Level 1

Includes passages from the National

Geographic Society that cover a
variety of content-area topics.

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