Why is teacher knowledge of language structure important?

Teacher knowledge of language structure is crucial because it directly impacts their ability to instruct students in essential literacy skills such as decoding and encoding words. Understanding how language is structured—comprising phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics—enables educators to provide effective strategies for students to recognize the sounds of letters, blend them into words, and understand how those words function within sentences. This foundational knowledge equips teachers to guide students in making connections between sounds and letters, as well as in understanding the rules and patterns of the language, thereby enhancing their reading and writing abilities. This comprehensive understanding not only supports students who are learning to read for the first time but also aids those who may struggle with literacy due to various learning differences.