FTCE Reading K-12 Practice Exam

What is the first step a teacher should take when working with diverse learners in the emergent stage of literacy development?

1. Focus on reading comprehension skills

2. First develop students' oral and academic vocabulary knowledge

3. Introduce advanced literary concepts

4. Encourage independent reading

The correct answer is: First develop students' oral and academic vocabulary knowledge

The choice of focusing on developing students' oral and academic vocabulary knowledge as the first step when working with diverse learners in the emergent stage of literacy development is crucial. At this stage, learners are just beginning to understand the connection between sounds and letters, and building a strong vocabulary foundation is essential. A rich vocabulary allows students to make sense of the text they will encounter as they progress in their literacy skills. Developing vocabulary also supports comprehension, as students need to understand the words they read to grasp the overall meaning of texts. By prioritizing vocabulary acquisition, teachers can help students gain the language tools necessary to engage with more complex texts and ideas in the future. Choosing other strategies, such as focusing on reading comprehension skills or introducing advanced literary concepts, may not be effective for emergent readers who still need a solid vocabulary base. Encouraging independent reading is important as well but is best suited for learners who already have a foundational understanding of vocabulary and basic reading skills, allowing them to explore texts independently.