Spelling with roots worksheets
Aligned with Common Core L.4.2d
Printable fourth-grade spelling worksheets: a spelling with roots chart, adding suffixes, double letters, -able or -ible, -tion or -sion, fixing misspelled root words, look, say, cover, write, check, and a spelling test.
The worksheets
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Spelling with Roots Chart
Six spelling rules for words built from roots: roots keep their spelling, prefixes just add, silent e, y to i, -able or -ible, and -tion or -sion, each with examples.
Adding Suffixes
Words like create + ion and happy + ness to put together, then circle just add, drop the e, or change y to i. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10. Includes an answer key.
Double Letters
Prefix and word pairs like mis + spell and dis + agree to put together, then mark whether the new word has a double letter. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12. Includes an answer key.
Able or Ible
Word starts like read and vis to finish with -able or -ible. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12. Includes an answer key.
Tion or Sion
Verbs like decide and invent to turn into nouns ending in -tion or -sion. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12. Includes an answer key.
Fix the Spelling
Sentences with one misspelled root word, like microscop or autograf, to find and fix. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10. Includes an answer key.
Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check
A practice grid for root words like telescope, transport and decision. Fewer, Standard or More give 8, 10 or 12 words.
Spelling Test
Numbered lines for a spelling test of words built from roots. The answer key lists the words for a grown-up to read aloud. Fewer, Standard or More give 10, 15 or 20 words.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
Many longer words are built from a root plus a prefix or a suffix, like inspect, transportation and visible. A root is spelled the same way in every word, so learning it once helps with many words. A few rules cover what happens when parts are added: keep every letter when you add a prefix, drop a silent e or change y to i before some suffixes, and choose between endings like -able and -ible or -tion and -sion.
What comes next
The Greek and Latin roots topic in 4th grade Reading teaches what each root means.
How to teach it
- Teach in order or jump to whatever your student needs. A student may spell roots well and still be learning the suffix rules.
- Say each word slowly, part by part, and spell one part at a time.
- Look for the root first. If you know how the root is spelled, most of the word is done.
- Practice one rule at a time, then mix them.
- Check unsure words in a dictionary, the way good spellers do.
Common mistakes
- Dropping a letter when a prefix makes a double letter, like mispell for misspell.
- Keeping the silent e before a vowel suffix, like createion.
- Forgetting to change y to i, like happyness.
- Spelling a root the way it sounds instead of the way it's built, like microscop or autograf.