STEPS training includes 2 kinds of vocabulary learning. The meanings of many words are taught with explicit instruction as students learn to spell. However, children learn most of their vocabulary indirectly by what they hear and what they read. In fact, research indicates that the most influential factor in vocabulary development is the amount of time a child spends reading independently. STEPS teaches you to maximize a student's ability to read, write, and spell to reach the independent level necessary for learning quantities of new vocabulary.