Megawords Effective Intervention to Develop Morphology, Vocabulary, and Comprehension

Megawords is a Tier 2 Structured Literacy intervention that empowers students to read, spell, and understand complex, multisyllabic words.

  • Phonics & Word Study
  • Grades 4–12
  • Tier 2
  • Print Format
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Advancing Word Knowledge for Comprehension 

Megawords is a Tier 2 intervention program for students who have moved beyond foundational decoding skills but are not yet performing at grade level. It leverages advanced word-study techniques to build vocabulary and improve reading comprehension.  

 

Megawords strengthens students' literacy skills through: 

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Explicit Decoding, Encoding, and Morphology Instruction: Explicitly teaches the essential skills needed to read, write, and understand complex multisyllabic words.  
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Vocabulary Expansion and Comprehension Development: Helps students unlock comprehension, expand vocabulary, and increase fluency by applying advanced word-study skills.  
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Diagnostic and Flexible Instruction: Provides a diagnostic, prescriptive approach to identify skill gaps and a flexible structure that adapts to various intervention settings.  

Megawords can be used with:
 Individual students    Small groups    Whole classes 

Comprehensive Teacher Support for Effective Instruction

Teacher's Guides

Teachers can access direct, point-of-use guidance, aligned with each structured, six-step lesson plan. Clear labeling of steps, sub-skills, objectives, and page references streamline lesson preparation, while soft scripting provides adaptable language for introducing concepts. 

Also includes:

  • Strategies for differentiated instruction 
  • Checklists and progress-monitoring tools 
  • Reproducible assessment, recording forms, and answer keys 
  • Strategies to support vocabulary development and comprehension 
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Building Skills Through Targeted Exercises

Student Books 

Exercises offer targeted practice in reading and spelling at the syllable, combined-syllable, and whole-word levels. Students engage in activities such as matching words with definitions and using words in various contexts. Each lesson concludes with brief content-area passages, allowing students to apply lesson words in connected text, building both comprehension and fluency. 

 

Exercises in student books feature: 

  • Practice with both decoding and encoding 
  • Practice in both structural and morphemic analysis to support accurate, automatic word recognition and vocabulary development 
  • Fluency practice and comprehension tasks using content-area text to develop higher-order thinking and strategies 

Focused Insights to Guide Student Progress

Assessment 

The Megawords Assessment of Decoding and Encoding Skills is a test designed to evaluate reading and spelling skills. It helps teachers identify which skills students have mastered and which need further practice. The results guide teachers in placing students into the right Megawords level and word list for their learning needs. 

  • Evaluates decoding and spelling skills 
  • Identifies mastered skills and areas for improvement 
  • Helps identify specific reading intervention needs 

Guided Placement 

Teachers use results from the initial assessment to place students in the appropriate Megawords level and word list. 

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Lesson Structure

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Targeted Word Lists

Each lesson begins with a comprehensive list of words that focus on the target pattern(s) and common phonics or structural elements of the English language.

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Six-Step Lessons

Build skills progressively, starting with one-syllable words and advancing to applying them in context, while monitoring accuracy, fluency, and proficiency.

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Writing Practice

Students have opportunities to incorporate newly learned words into their writing.

Megawords Highlights

  • Rooted in the Science of Reading: Supports teachers in providing explicit, systematic instruction that follows Orton-Gillingham principles.  
  • Designed for Grades 4–12: Equips students with the skills to decode and comprehend complex, multisyllabic words. 
  • Strengthens Decoding, Spelling, and Contextual Understanding: Enables students to master longer academic vocabulary words and apply them confidently in context. 
  • Embedded Comprehension Activities: Develops critical thinking and inference skills with engaging, vocabulary-rich exercises.  
  • Proven Success Across Settings: Ideal for individual, small-group, or whole-class instruction. 
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Resources

Program Overviews

Word Lists

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