The Impact of Morphological Instruction on Literacy Skills: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Keywords:
Morphological instruction, literacy skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary developmentAbstract
This systematic review examines the effects of morphological instruction on literacy skills, including reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and word recognition. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of the literature, the review highlights the positive impact of explicit instruction on morphemes, such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes, on various aspects of literacy development. While morphological instruction has consistently demonstrated benefits across different age groups and populations, variability in instructional approaches and participant characteristics moderates its effectiveness. Younger learners, English language learners, and students with specific learning needs may require tailored instructional strategies to effectively develop morphological awareness and apply it to literacy tasks. Moreover, long-term and integrated instructional approaches, seamlessly embedding morphological instruction within broader literacy activities, are crucial for maximizing the benefits of morphological instruction. The findings underscore the importance of refining instructional practices to meet the diverse needs of learners and inform the design of effective interventions for promoting literacy development through morphological awareness.
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