How do morphological awareness skills contribute to literacy?

Morphological awareness skills significantly contribute to literacy by enabling students to understand the structures of words. This understanding includes recognizing prefixes, suffixes, and root words, which helps learners decipher unfamiliar words and comprehend their meanings. When students are aware of the morphological components of language, they can break down complex words into smaller, more manageable parts, making it easier to decode them.

Additionally, this skill set fosters vocabulary expansion since students can apply their knowledge of word parts to deduce the meanings of new words they encounter, promoting both reading and writing proficiency. This greater understanding not only aids in comprehension but also enhances spelling abilities by allowing students to apply their knowledge of word structures effectively. Overall, morphological awareness is a critical skill that directly supports and improves literacy development.