Final answer:
Learning irregular words can be challenging due to their lack of consistent spelling patterns. Regular words are easier to decode and remember because they adhere to spelling rules and have similar patterns. Memorizing irregular words individually takes additional time and effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why is it more difficult for students to learn irregular words than regular words?
Learning irregular words can be more challenging for students because they don't follow predictable spelling patterns like regular words. Regular words adhere to spelling rules, which makes them easier to decode and remember. For example, in English, the letter combination 'ea' usually makes the long /ē/ sound in regular words like 'beat' or 'bean', whereas irregular words like 'bread' or 'break' deviate from this pattern.
Additionally, regular words often have similar patterns, making it easier to generalize and apply these patterns to other words. Irregular words, on the other hand, lack consistent patterns, so each word must be individually memorized. This requires additional time and effort from students.
Overall, the irregularity of irregular words makes them more challenging to learn compared to regular words, which follow consistent spelling patterns.
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