What is a key factor in vocabulary development for students who struggle with reading?

A key factor in vocabulary development for students who struggle with reading is the focus on phonemic awareness and phonics. Phonemic awareness involves the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words, which is foundational for understanding how words are constructed. When students are equipped with phonemic awareness, they can decode words more effectively, giving them direct access to a wider range of vocabulary.

Phonics instruction supports this by teaching students the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or groups of letters. This systematic approach helps students connect sounds to their written forms, enabling them to read new words and expand their vocabulary base. By mastering these skills, struggling readers demonstrate improved comprehension and retention of vocabulary, ultimately enhancing their overall reading proficiency.

In contrast, while increased exposure to complex texts can benefit advanced students or those who already have a solid vocabulary foundation, it may not be as effective for those struggling with foundational reading skills. Similarly, consistent practice with spelling rules and frequent assessments of reading fluency, although beneficial in their own right, do not directly target the critical areas of sound recognition and word decoding that are essential for building vocabulary in struggling readers.