Preteaching vocabulary is a strategy that introduces difficult words to students with exceptional learning needs before they begin reading. It is important because vocabulary knowledge is the strongest predictor of reading comprehension. The teacher should present keywords from the text beforehand to prevent confusion, place words in context, and access students' prior knowledge to help them better understand unfamiliar terms. Using this strategy results in less student confusion and frustration since the reading assignment is more accessible after learning the important vocabulary in advance.