What role does assessment play in vocabulary instruction?

Assessment plays a crucial role in vocabulary instruction by helping educators identify which words students need to learn in order to enhance their comprehension and expressive abilities. Through various assessment methods, teachers can gather information about students’ current vocabulary knowledge, determine gaps, and tailor instruction to meet individual needs. This targeted approach ensures that students are exposed to relevant and meaningful vocabulary that supports their overall language development and academic success.

Using assessments in this way enables teachers to focus on specific words or word groups that may contribute most significantly to students' understanding of the texts they are reading, and it can inform instructional strategies to help students engage with those words effectively. This adaptive approach makes vocabulary instruction more effective and responsive to the diverse needs of learners.