What is the main purpose of the Frayer Model in teaching?

The Frayer Model is primarily designed to increase student comprehension of unfamiliar vocabulary by providing a structured framework that encourages active engagement with new words. This approach enables students to explore and define terms deeply by examining their characteristics, examples, non-examples, and definitions. Through this comprehensive breakdown, learners can develop a clearer understanding of how to use new vocabulary in context, fostering better retention and application of the words in both written and spoken language.

While promoting memorization may occur as a byproduct of using the Frayer Model, its core objective is to deepen understanding, making it more effective for enhancing vocabulary knowledge rather than just recalling it. The Frayer Model does not specifically target evaluating writing skills or testing knowledge retention, as its focus is on the comprehension and contextual application of vocabulary.