Vocabulary

Vocabulary is the knowledge of words and word meanings. As Steven Stahl (2005) puts it, "Vocabulary knowledge is knowledge, the knowledge of a word not only implies a definition, but also implies how that word fits into the world," (Honig, Diamond, & Gutlohn, 2018) .

"Of the many benefits of having a large vocabulary, none is more valuable than the positive contribution that vocabulary size makes to reading comprehension," (Nagy, as cited in Honig, Diamond, & Gutlohn, 2018).

"First-grade vocabulary predicted students' reading achievement in their junior year in high school," (Cunningham & Stanovich 1997, as cited in Beck, McKeown & Kucan, 2013).

"Relying on learning word meanings from independent reading is not an adequate way to deal with students vocabulary development," (Beck, McKeown & Kucan, 2013).

Daily, direct instruction of specific vocabulary words should begin in preschool or kindergarten. Vocabulary instruction can occur before, during, or after reading experiences.