ABSTRACT
In the MSV model, M represents meaning, or the contextual supports a reader can draw on when trying to figure out an unknown word. Meaning includes background knowledge, picture clues, vocabulary, familiarity with story structure, and so on. The S in the MSV model represents structure, or the syntactical information in the text that can help a reader figure out an unknown word. Structure includes drawing on what one knows about grammar or word order. Finally, the V represents visual, or letters and letter patterns available to help a reader figure out an unknown word. This chapter focuses on the ways the model is typically used both to prompt children during reading and to analyze reading behaviors after. Focusing on meaning first, instead of the visual information, when figuring out words can compromise the important role that meaning and structure really do play in problem solving words. Meaning and structure actually work together to do two word-solving jobs for readers.
