VOCABULARY STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING
COMPREHENSION
Summer Holmes
Vocabulary development is a key concept in reading comprehension. In order for students to
understand the text they are reading, they must know the meaning of the words. “Reading is the process of
constructing meaning from written texts” (Anderson, Hiebert, Scott, & Wilkinson, 1985, p. 7). According to
Daneman (1991), vocabulary knowledge can be an effective predictor of reading success. Vocabulary
instruction is an essential element in all content areas; however, vocabulary instruction is, for the most part,
“tedious and ineffective” (Richek, 2005, para 1). This article will explore the connection between vocabulary
development and readin