CECE CECE Language & Literacy Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of an 'emergent literacy' behavior in a toddler?
- Reading simple CVC words independently
- Pretending to read a book by narrating from the pictures (Correct answer)
- Writing their name correctly
- Identifying all 26 letters of the alphabet
Correct answer: Pretending to read a book by narrating from the pictures
Pretend reading demonstrates emergent literacy — the child understands that books tell stories and that reading involves looking at pages sequentially, before formal reading skills develop.
Question 2: The term 'phonological awareness' is BEST described as:
- Knowledge of letter names and their sounds
- Sensitivity to the sound structure of language, including rhymes, syllables, and phonemes (Correct answer)
- The ability to read words quickly and accurately
- Understanding the meaning of words in context
Correct answer: Sensitivity to the sound structure of language, including rhymes, syllables, and phonemes
Phonological awareness is an umbrella term encompassing sensitivity to rhyme, syllables, onset-rime, and individual phonemes — all of which are key predictors of reading success.
Question 3: A preschool teacher reads a big book with large print to the class while pointing to each word. This strategy primarily develops which literacy skill?
- Phonemic awareness
- Comprehension strategies
- Concepts of print and one-to-one word correspondence (Correct answer)
- Fluency and expression
Correct answer: Concepts of print and one-to-one word correspondence
Pointing to each word while reading aloud explicitly demonstrates one-to-one word correspondence and directionality, building foundational print concepts.
Question 4: Which of the Five Components of Reading identified by the National Reading Panel is most directly developed when children practice reading aloud with expression and appropriate speed?
- Phonemic awareness
- Phonics
- Fluency (Correct answer)
- Vocabulary
Correct answer: Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with proper expression, and is developed through repeated oral reading practice.
Question 5: What does the term 'alphabetic principle' mean in early literacy instruction?
- Children should learn alphabet letters in order from A to Z
- Written letters and letter patterns represent the sounds of spoken language (Correct answer)
- Children should memorize 100 high-frequency sight words
- Reading and writing are learned simultaneously
Correct answer: Written letters and letter patterns represent the sounds of spoken language
The alphabetic principle is the foundational understanding that the letters in written words correspond systematically to the phonemes in spoken words.
Question 6: A teacher notices that a child reverses letters like 'b' and 'd' frequently. What is the most appropriate response?
- Immediately refer the child for a special education evaluation
- Recognize this as developmentally typical for children in early primary grades and provide targeted practice (Correct answer)
- Restrict writing activities until the child masters letter formation
- Contact the parents and recommend vision therapy
Correct answer: Recognize this as developmentally typical for children in early primary grades and provide targeted practice
Letter reversals, especially of b/d and p/q, are developmentally typical through first grade and do not independently indicate a learning disability; targeted practice activities address this effectively.
CECE CECE Language & Literacy Development 2
Which of the following is an example of an 'emergent literacy' behavior in a toddler?