Teaching students about lexical knowledge is essential for helping them become competent readers and writers. Lexical knowledge refers to the ability to understand and use words and phrases effectively, including their meanings, nuances, and associations with other words.
Here are some effective strategies for teaching students about lexical knowledge:
1. Vocabulary instruction: Teach students new words and their meanings. It’s essential to choose words that are useful in many contexts, words that are frequently used, and words that are significant content vocabulary.
2. Word study: Word study is a step forward from basic vocabulary instruction. In word study, students learn about how words look, how they are built, and how they work in sentences. This includes studying morphemes, roots, prefixes, suffixes, and understanding the ways words change meaning when different affixes are applied.
3. Grammar instruction: To build students’ lexical knowledge, it’s essential they develop an understanding of grammar rules, sentence structure, and the role of words in communication. Understanding grammar rules will help students understand how words are used in context and how to use them effectively.
4. Reading aloud: Reading aloud can not only teach students new words, but it can also help students understand these words in context. This is an excellent strategy for students struggling with reading comprehension and is a valuable way to reinforce vocabulary acquisition.
5. Writing practice: Encourage students to write sentences and paragraphs using the words they have learned. Encourage students to use context-rich words that fit the context of the sentence or paragraph. Writing practice can help students to use words effectively and see how words fit together to convey meaning.
Effective teachers use a combination of these strategies to build students’ lexical knowledge in all its forms. Whatever strategy used, the focus must always be on engaging students and keeping them interested, ultimately improving their overall reading, writing, and communication skills. By building students’ lexical knowledge, you are preparing them for success in school and beyond.
