1. Word Knowledge:
* Word Recognition: This involves being able to identify and pronounce words accurately. It includes:
* Phonics: Understanding the relationship between letters and sounds.
* Sight Words: Recognizing commonly used words without sounding them out.
* Morphology: Understanding how prefixes, suffixes, and root words affect meaning.
* Word Meaning: Understanding the definition of words and their nuances:
* Literal Meaning: Understanding the dictionary definition.
* Figurative Meaning: Understanding idioms, metaphors, and other figurative language.
* Connotations: Recognizing the emotional and cultural associations of words.
* Word Relationships: Understanding how words connect to each other:
* Synonyms and Antonyms: Identifying words with similar and opposite meanings.
* Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms: Recognizing words that sound alike, look alike, or have the same meaning.
* Word Families: Identifying related words with similar meanings.
* Word Associations: Making connections between words based on context or shared ideas.
2. Word Use:
* Word Choice: Selecting the most appropriate words for the context, audience, and purpose:
* Formal vs. Informal Language: Recognizing and using appropriate language for different situations.
* Domain-Specific Vocabulary: Understanding specialized words used in specific fields or professions.
* Clarity and Precision: Choosing words that convey meaning accurately and effectively.
* Sentence Structure: Understanding how to use words correctly in sentences:
* Grammar: Understanding the rules of sentence construction.
* Syntax: Understanding the order of words in a sentence.
* Sentence Variety: Using different sentence types to add interest and clarity.
* Text Comprehension: Understanding the meaning of words in context and how they contribute to the overall message:
* Inferencing: Drawing conclusions based on the information provided in the text.
* Summarizing and Paraphrasing: Condensing and rephrasing the text in your own words.
* Analyzing Text Structure: Recognizing how different elements of a text are organized and connected.
3. Vocabulary Acquisition Strategies:
* Direct Instruction: Learning new words through explicit teaching, like definitions, examples, and practice exercises.
* Reading: Expanding vocabulary by encountering new words in context.
* Contextualization: Using clues from the surrounding text to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words.
* Word Parts: Breaking down unfamiliar words into smaller parts to understand their meaning.
* Vocabulary Games and Activities: Engaging in fun and interactive activities that reinforce vocabulary learning.
It's important to note that these sub-skills are interconnected and work together to build strong vocabulary skills. Focusing on developing each sub-skill can lead to more effective and comprehensive vocabulary learning.