One vocabulary strategy that I tried out today was utilizing **context clues** when I read. Using what you're reading surrounding an unfamiliar word, you try and determine what meaning it may possess.
For example, while reading a passage on environmental conservation, I came across the word **"biodiversity."** The sentence mentioned that biodiversity is crucial for maintaining balanced ecosystems. By breaking down the word (bio = life, diversity = variety) and considering the context, I understood it means the variety of life forms in an ecosystem.
Another word I learned is **"sustainability."** The text stated that sustainability means using resources without harming the generations of the future. Here, the context allowed me to deduce that it is a concept about long-term environmental balance.
This strategy really worked well for me. It made me think critically of the text and not immediately try to find words in the dictionary. At the same time, I wrote the new words and their meanings in a notebook to read through them later.