What is the significance of teaching sight words to early readers?

Teaching sight words to early readers is significant primarily because they develop reading fluency through quick recognition. Sight words are frequently encountered words that young learners need to recognize instantly without sounding them out. This instant recognition streamlines the reading process, allowing students to focus less on decoding individual words and more on understanding the overall meaning of the text.

When students can readily recognize sight words, they experience less cognitive load and are able to read more smoothly and quickly. This fluency is crucial for building confidence in reading and encourages a positive attitude towards literacy. As students become proficient in recognizing these common words, they are empowered to engage with more complex texts, ultimately enhancing their overall reading experience and comprehension skills.

The other choices, while related to reading development in various ways, do not capture the primary benefit that comes from teaching sight words. For instance, text structure recognition involves understanding how texts are organized, which is not the primary role of sight words. Enhancing narrative comprehension relies on a broader understanding of context and storytelling elements, which can be aided by fluency but is not a direct result of learning sight words. Lastly, while expanded vocabulary is valuable, sight words themselves are often not new vocabulary but common words that facilitate reading fluency rather than direct vocabulary enhancement.