The article "Vocabulary: A Critical Component of Comprehension" ( Joshi , 2005) explores the crucial role vocabulary knowledge plays in reading comprehension. In this article, Joshi laments that we need more research to see how vocabulary affects reading comprehension, but explains that a synthesis of research shows that there is a causal relationship--that those with poor vocabulary knowledge also have poorer reading comprehension skills and vice versa . Compounding the issue is what is known as the Matthew Effect --the idea that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. In reading, the better comprehenders read more widely, and their vocabulary increases. Poorer comprehenders avoid reading (or read easier materials) and do not make gains in vocabulary. Thus, the gulf widens. Joshi discusses ways of teaching vocabulary, though noting that most vocabulary knowledge isn't directly taught. Rather, it is acquired with each contact with a word, a...
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