Why is oral language understanding important for reading development?

Oral language understanding plays a crucial role in reading development because it directly impacts a child's ability to comprehend and process written texts. When children have a strong foundation in oral language, they possess the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax knowledge necessary to make sense of what they read. This understanding allows them to connect spoken words to their written counterparts, facilitating deeper comprehension.

As children encounter stories and texts, their background knowledge derived from oral language experiences helps them predict, infer, and visualize content. Additionally, well-developed oral language skills enable children to engage in conversations about texts, ask questions, and articulate their thoughts, all of which further bolster comprehension. Therefore, the ability to understand and effectively use oral language is essential for fostering successful reading skills in young learners.