Megawords: Morphology Study that Drives Comprehension
Megawords empowers students to break apart, analyze, and understand multisyllabic words—strengthening decoding, spelling, and meaning at the same time.
Phonics & Word Study Grades 4–12 Tier 2 Print Format
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.
Explicit Decoding, Encoding, and Morphology Instruction: Explicitly teaches the essential skills needed to read, write, and understand complex multisyllabic words.
Vocabulary Expansion and Comprehension Development: Helps students unlock comprehension, expand vocabulary, and increase fluency by applying advanced word-study skills.
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
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
Lesson Structure
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.
Six-Step Lessons
Build skills progressively, starting with one-syllable words and advancing to applying them in context, while monitoring accuracy, fluency, and proficiency.
Writing Practice
Students have opportunities to incorporate newly learned words into their writing.
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.
Megawords Resources
Megawords Program Overview
Get an overview of the Megawords program, including its scope and sequence, instructional approach, and materials.
Megawords® is a structured literacy program that provides explicit, systematic instruction in multisyllabic word reading and spelling for students in grades 4–12 who struggle with decoding.
Megawords is designed for students who need targeted support with advanced phonics and word analysis (morphology), including students with dyslexia, reading difficulties, or unfinished foundational skills.
Megawords is grounded in the Science of Reading and uses explicit, cumulative instruction to teach syllable patterns, prefixes, suffixes, and spelling structures that support fluent, accurate reading.
Megawords is commonly used as a Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention in small-group settings, literacy labs, or resource rooms, with flexible pacing to meet student needs. It is an effective bridge program for students exiting Tier 3 intervention who still need additional support to access grade-level content.
By improving students’ ability to decode longer, multisyllabic words, Megawords helps students access academic vocabulary and text, supporting improved fluency and comprehension across subjects.
Yes. Megawords is often used alongside programs such as SPIRE® or EPS Reading Accelerator to create a comprehensive literacy intervention pathway across grade levels.
