Vocabulary
Vocabulary is very important to reading comprehension. Readers cannot understand what they are reading without knowing what most of the words mean. As children learn to read more advanced texts, they must learn the meaning of new words.
The scientific research on vocabulary words reveals that
(1) most vocabulary words are learned indirectly, and
(2) some vocabulary words must be taught directly. Children learn the meanings of most vocabulary words indirectly, through everyday experiences with oral and written language.
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All children love to have things repeated even when they already know them, so don't hesitate to do things over and over again. In fact, repetition is how children practice what they are learning.
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Examples of multiple-meaning vocabulary words that can be difficult:
- Words that are spelled the same but are pronounced differently - sow (a female pig); sow (to plant seeds) bow (a knot with loops); bow (the front of a ship)
- Words that are spelled and pronounced the same, but have different meanings - mail (letters, cards, and packages); mail (a type of armor) ray (a narrow beam of light); ray (a type of fish); ray (part of a line)
