Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

What is an example of phonological awareness?

1. Understanding grammar syntax

2. Recognizing the sounds in spoken language

3. Reading complex texts aloud

4. Writing sentences correctly

The correct answer is: Recognizing the sounds in spoken language

Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language. This skill includes various aspects such as identifying individual sounds (phonemes), recognizing syllables, and understanding that spoken words can be broken down into smaller sound units. Option B exemplifies this concept perfectly, as it emphasizes the recognition of sounds, which is fundamental to developing reading and communication skills. Phonological awareness is a critical component in early literacy instruction, as children learn to associate sounds with letters and understand the structure of words. In contrast, the other options focus on different language skills. Understanding grammar syntax pertains to sentence structure rather than the sound system of language. Reading complex texts aloud involves decoding and fluency, which are skills that build upon phonological awareness but are not examples of it. Writing sentences correctly relates to grammar and writing conventions, which again, do not directly pertain to phonological awareness. Thus, the correct choice effectively illustrates the aspect of phonological awareness.