Explicit, Systematic Suffix Instruction: A Multicomponent Structured Literacy Approach

Explicit, Systematic Suffix Instruction: A Multicomponent Structured Literacy Approach

This webinar explores how explicit, systematic suffix instruction strengthens students' word recognition, spelling accuracy, vocabulary, comprehension, and written language while reinforcing the connections among phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

Through lesson demonstrations, engaging instructional routines, and practical applications, participants will learn how to teach high-utility suffixes and suffix conventions within a structured literacy framework.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Explain the role of suffixes in reading, spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, and written language.
• Teach high-utility English suffixes and suffix conventions explicitly and systematically.
• Integrate phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax, and semantics during suffix instruction.
• Strengthen students' reading and spelling of multisyllabic words through meaningful word analysis.
• Apply practical instructional routines that build flexible word knowledge and support authentic reading and writing.

About Your Speaker

Mary McFarlin, M.A., C-SLDS

Mary McFarlin, M.A., C-SLDS has spent 20 years supporting students through structured literacy. Before entering education, she worked with youth in residential treatment and the juvenile justice system. Her original structured literacy training was through the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), and she is now a CERI-Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist.

Mary is the founder of Sound Literacy Solutions and creator of The Morphology Kit®, a comprehensive set of instructional materials organized around common Latin morphemes in English. Her work focuses on helping students access academic language through explicit, systematic instruction integrating morphology, phonology, orthography, semantics, and syntax. She is a board member of the Washington Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (WABIDA) and has presented for NILD, IDA, and ALTA. She also moderates The Morphology Teacher’s Hub.