1. Phonological Awareness: The ability to hear and manipulate the sounds in words. This includes:
* Rhyming: Identifying words that sound alike.
* Alliteration: Identifying words that start with the same sound.
* Syllabification: Breaking words into syllables.
* Phoneme isolation: Identifying specific sounds in words.
2. Semantic Awareness: The understanding of the meaning of words. This includes:
* Vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of a wide range of words.
* Word relationships: Understanding how words are related (synonyms, antonyms, etc.).
* Figurative language: Understanding metaphors, similes, and other figurative expressions.
3. Morphological Awareness: The understanding of the structure of words and how they are formed. This includes:
* Prefixes: Understanding the meanings of prefixes and how they change the meaning of a word.
* Suffixes: Understanding the meanings of suffixes and how they change the meaning of a word.
* Root words: Identifying the base word from which other words are derived.
* Compound words: Understanding how words are combined to create new meanings.
Why is lexical awareness important?
* Reading comprehension: Good lexical awareness helps children understand what they are reading.
* Writing: A strong vocabulary and understanding of word structure helps children write more effectively.
* Language development: Lexical awareness is a crucial foundation for language development overall.
How can you improve lexical awareness?
* Read aloud to children: This exposes them to a wide variety of words and language structures.
* Play word games: Games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Mad Libs can help children develop vocabulary and word awareness.
* Engage in conversations: Talk to children about their interests and encourage them to express themselves verbally.
* Use visual aids: Pictures, diagrams, and other visual aids can help children learn new words and their meanings.
Lexical awareness is a key skill for literacy development and can have a positive impact on a child's academic and social success.