Throughout the United States, the state's and classroom's curriculum is in a constant change. Many states have already changed to new standards of which teachers have to focus their lessons. Reading comprehension is a prime factor in the new and old standards and is necessary across the curriculum. Stems are also a stated standard. Stems allow students to figure out the meaning or a part of the meaning of words by knowing the meaning of the word part(s). Teaching and using stems in the classroom enhances reading comprehension across the curriculum. Examples: bilateral bi = two lat = sided bilateral = two sided pseudonym pseudo = false nym = name pseudonym = false name | Teaching Stems-Another Branch of Reading Comprehension by Sheila Statham Thompson, Paperback | Indigo Chapters