Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

How does a large oral vocabulary directly support future reading development in young children?

1. By helping them discriminate between different parts of speech

2. By fostering their ability to decode digraphs

3. By preparing them to comprehend words in print

4. By facilitating the ability to segment words into phonemes

The correct answer is: By preparing them to comprehend words in print

A large oral vocabulary is fundamental for young children's future reading development mainly because it enhances their ability to comprehend words in print. When children possess a rich vocabulary, they are more likely to recognize and understand the meanings of words they encounter while reading. This comprehension is critical as it enables them to grasp the overall context of the text, connect ideas, and derive inferences, which are all essential skills for fluent reading. As children progress in their literacy education, they are continually exposed to new written content. A well-developed oral vocabulary provides a bridge to understanding these unfamiliar words when they appear in print. Additionally, when children can recall and apply their spoken vocabulary to reading tasks, they are better prepared to engage with and analyze complex texts, which supports overall literacy development.