What is the impact of teaching Tier 2 vocabulary on students’ long-term memory?

Teaching Tier 2 vocabulary significantly impacts students' long-term memory by helping them acquire important academic language. Tier 2 words are high-frequency words that appear across various domains and texts, making them vital for reading comprehension and communication in academic contexts. By focusing on these words, educators equip students with the tools to articulate their thoughts more effectively and understand complex texts, which is essential for their academic success.

Furthermore, acquiring a robust academic vocabulary fosters deeper cognitive connections as students engage with content. This engagement enhances retention and retrieval of these words from long-term memory, allowing students to integrate new knowledge effectively, whether in writing assignments, discussions, or tests. By emphasizing Tier 2 vocabulary, teachers are helping students build a bridge to advanced understanding and skill in their academic pursuits.