Prefixes and Suffixes
The work of the eighth grade continues the work of the seventh grade in word building by a careful study of prefixes and suffixes. The addition of a prefix or a suffix makes a longer word and, because it is longer, the word becomes harder to visualize as a whole. It is highly important that the root part of the word should be pointed out, and it will be found that in most cases it is a familiar word. When this is true the prefix or the suffix becomes the part which needs to be drilled upon and emphasized. On pages 48 to 54 are given a list of words having troublesome endings. On pages 48, 49, and 50, for example, are words ending in ent, ant, ence, and ance. These should be taught by groups and, after the whole page has been carefully taught and studied, drill lessons and reviews should be given until the pupil has the endings learned. These reviews will tax the ingenuity of the teacher that they may be interesting and not merely a mechanical word drill. Attention may well be called to the fact that the plural of nouns ending in ant and ent have the same pronunciation as the corresponding words ending in ance and ence. If given in a sentence the meaning will clearly show him which one is meant. Care must be used that confusion does not result. Thoughtful teaching is important.