What is the goal of vocabulary instruction in reading?

The goal of vocabulary instruction in reading is to expand students' lexical knowledge. This means helping students learn new words and understand their meanings, usage, and connections to other words. When students expand their vocabulary, they improve their reading comprehension and are better able to express themselves in both written and spoken forms. A well-developed vocabulary supports students as they engage with various texts, allowing them to infer meanings, analyze content, and build connections to their prior knowledge.

Focusing solely on synonyms and antonyms limits the understanding of words to just their relationships, which does not encompass the broader knowledge needed for full lexicon development. Concentrating on grammar rules, while important, does not directly contribute to vocabulary growth, and teaching spelling alone does not provide students with an understanding of word meanings or applications in context. Thus, the primary objective of vocabulary instruction is that comprehensive growth in lexical knowledge that enhances overall reading skills.