Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

Showing young readers how to make a story map helps them to:

1. Communicate individual responses to texts

2. Understand relationships in a text

3. Activate prior knowledge before reading

4. Recognize the importance of illustrations

The correct answer is: Understand relationships in a text

Making a story map is a powerful strategy that aids young readers in visualizing and comprehending the structure and elements of a text. By mapping out a story, children can identify key components such as characters, setting, plot, and events, which enhances their ability to understand the relationships between these elements. This deeper understanding allows young readers to see how characters interact, how the setting influences the plot, and how events are interconnected within the storyline. This structured approach not only supports comprehension but also fosters critical thinking as children examine the narrative's construction and meaning. While communicating individual responses, activating prior knowledge, and recognizing illustrations are important literacy skills, the primary focus of a story map is to enhance understanding of relationships within the text, making option B the appropriate choice.