Final answer:
Students can establish high-quality mental connections in memory when learning words by placing them in a language-rich environment, reading aloud to them, and explicitly teaching selected words.
Step-by-step explanation:
To establish high-quality mental connections in memory when learning words, students can:
- Place students in a language-rich environment: Being exposed to a variety of words and conversations helps students build their vocabulary and make meaningful connections.
- Read aloud to students: Reading aloud helps reinforce word pronunciation and improves memory retention.
- Explicitly teach selected words: Providing clear and direct instruction on specific words promotes better understanding and retention.
These strategies facilitate the process of elaborative rehearsal, where students link new information to existing knowledge, making it more meaningful and easier to remember.