What is a strong predictor of reading comprehension in children?

Vocabulary development is indeed a strong predictor of reading comprehension in children due to the significant role it plays in the understanding of language. A robust vocabulary allows children to decode text more effectively and grasp the meanings of words within context. When children have a wide range of words at their disposal, they are more capable of making connections between their existing knowledge and new information. This facilitates deeper comprehension, as they can assign meaning to the text and engage with it critically.

Moreover, strong vocabulary skills support various reading activities, such as summarizing, inferring, and predicting, which are essential components of comprehension. When children encounter unfamiliar words, their previous vocabulary knowledge enables them to use context clues to deduce meanings, further enhancing their ability to understand complex texts. Thus, a focus on building vocabulary in early childhood education is crucial for fostering long-term reading success and comprehension skills.

While parental involvement, access to technology, and classroom size are important factors in a child's educational experience, they do not have as direct an impact on reading comprehension as vocabulary development does. Parental involvement can support literacy skills at home, technology can provide resources, and classroom size can affect individual attention, but without a solid vocabulary base, children may struggle with understanding what they read.