The Science of Reading: How Word Parts Build Strong Readers

Through this two-part series, we’ve been exploring the POSSUM framework, a helpful way to understand how language systems work together when children learn to read.

So far we’ve covered:

• Phonology – sounds in words

• Orthography – spelling patterns

• Semantics – word meanings

• Syntax – sentence structure

Today we’ll look at the final piece: Morphology.

Morphology: Understanding Word Parts

Morphology is the study of word parts and how they change meaning.

Many English words grow by adding prefixes, suffixes, or combining words together.

Let’s return one more time to our example word:bank

From this base word we can build new words:

banking

banker

banked

riverbank

For example: bank + er = banker

A banker is someone who works at a bank.

When students understand how words grow and change, they can unlock the meaning of unfamiliar words more easily.

This skill is powerful for building vocabulary and comprehension.

Why All Five Systems Matter

When students develop skills across all five POSSUM areas, they build strong literacy foundations.

They learn to:

• hear sounds in words

• connect sounds to letters

• understand word meanings

• recognize sentence structure• analyze word parts

This deep word knowledge supports:

🌱 reading accuracy

🌱 spelling

🌱 vocabulary development

🌱 reading comprehension

🌱 confident writing

How We Teach This at My Learning Farm

At My Learning Farm, reading, spelling, and writing instruction are guided by the Science of Reading and taught using Orton-Gillingham structured literacy methods.

Lessons are:

• explicit

• systematic

• supportive

• multisensory

Students practice skills through reading activities, spelling instruction, and writing exercises so that language knowledge grows naturally over time.

Our goal is always the same:

🌻 help children become confident readers

🌻 grow strong writers

🌻 nurture curiosity and a love of learning

Because when children understand how words work, reading begins to feel possible—and even joyful.