The Nifty Thrifty
Fifty is a list of words containing common roots, prefixes and
suffixes. Once students learn the spelling patterns of these
words, they can apply that knowledge to help them spell and build
meaning for many other words. Patricia
Cunningham, author and respected educational lecturer, says that
for each Nifty Thrifty Fifty word a reader knows, he or
she can read at least 7 more words. That means that if students
master the Nifty Thrifty Fifty words listed, they
can figure out at least 350 additional words.
*Adapted from Month-by-Month
PHONICS for Upper Grades, 1998,
Patricia Cunningham and Dorothy
Hall. Carson-Dellosa.