Why are word-learning strategies important in reading instruction?

Word-learning strategies are essential in reading instruction because they empower students to independently acquire vocabulary. These strategies give learners tools and techniques to understand and deduce the meaning of new words they encounter in various contexts, rather than relying exclusively on direct instruction or memorization. This promotes a deeper engagement with the text, as students become more autonomous in their reading and comprehension.

By developing word-learning strategies, students can approach unfamiliar words with confidence, use context clues, and utilize morphological awareness (understanding prefixes, suffixes, and root words) to infer meanings. This not only enhances their vocabulary but also supports overall reading comprehension, as they are better equipped to tackle complex texts and understand nuanced language.