Oral Language Developmental Continuum Preschool-First Grade Students need to be able to use language appropriately for a broad range of functions and perceive the functions for which others use language. Preschool-First Grade Oral language is the foundation skill that students bring to school. Although students come to school with different levels of competence in their speaking and listening abilities, they bring their oral language and experiences as strengths to literacy learning.
Oral language is the foundation on which reading is built.
Students' oral language abilities are interwoven with learning to read and write. The oral language students acquire as preschoolers helps them connect words and sounds with print. Throughout the school years, oral language is both a means whereby students learn about reading and is a goal of literacy instruction. Any competence that students develop in oral language pays dividends in their reading and writing development. Encouraging oral language in the classroom and at home is a continuing process.