Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

To assess second graders' sight-word vocabulary at the beginning of the school year, what would be the best method?

1. A list of nonsense words

2. Selected sections from their favorite book

3. Published lists of high-frequency words

4. A passage from the second-grade basal reader

The correct answer is: Published lists of high-frequency words

Using published lists of high-frequency words is an effective method for assessing second graders' sight-word vocabulary at the beginning of the school year because these lists are specifically designed to evaluate a child's recognition of commonly used words. These high-frequency words are pivotal for developing reading fluency, as they appear frequently in texts that children encounter. This approach allows educators to obtain a clear understanding of the students' existing knowledge of sight words, which can inform instruction and tailored learning strategies. By relying on established lists, educators can also ensure that the assessment aligns with grade-level expectations and benchmarks for literacy development. The other methods present challenges for an effective assessment of sight-word vocabulary. For instance, a list of nonsense words would not accurately reflect students' sight-word recognition since they would not be familiar with these words from their reading experiences. Selected sections from their favorite book may not provide a standardized measure and may vary greatly in complexity and vocabulary based on individual students' preferences. Similarly, a passage from the second-grade basal reader could be too context-specific and not focus solely on sight-word recognition, making it less effective for assessing overall sight-word vocabulary.