Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

A kindergartener reading a story to a doll suggests they have developed:

1. Skill in recognizing individual letters

2. Knowledge of letter-sound relationships

3. Understanding that written symbols convey meaning

4. An extensive receptive and expressive vocabulary

The correct answer is: Understanding that written symbols convey meaning

The act of a kindergartener reading a story to a doll indicates that they have developed an understanding that written symbols convey meaning. This behavior demonstrates that the child is beginning to grasp the concept that print has a purpose and can express ideas, stories, and information. By engaging in this play activity, the child is not just mimicking the act of reading; they are showing that they recognize that the text represents something meaningful, which is a crucial foundational skill in literacy development. The other options, while important in literacy development, reflect different aspects of reading that may not be illustrated as clearly through the child's action of reading to a doll. Recognizing individual letters pertains specifically to letter recognition without an understanding of their meaning. Knowledge of letter-sound relationships focuses on phonics and how sounds correspond to letters, and an extensive vocabulary relates to the words the child understands and uses. However, the key aspect illustrated by the act of reading the story is the understanding that the written word conveys meaning, which corresponds directly to option C.