Chapter 1
Foundational Skills
Course: Elementary Education Assessment 5006
Subject: Reading And Language Arts And Social Studies 5007
Chapter: Language
Vocabulary knowledge is one of the strongest predictors of reading comprehension and overall academic success. Students do not read well simply because they can decode. They read well when they understand the words they encounter, can interpret how those words function in sentences, and can use those words accurately when speaking and writing. Vocabulary is also central to learning in every subject area because academic texts use precise language and domain-specific terminology that students must understand to access content.
Vocabulary includes both what students understand when they hear or read language and what students can use when they speak or write. Students may understand far more words than they can comfortably use, especially in early grades. Effective instruction strengthens both receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary so that students can comprehend complex texts and communicate with clarity and precision.