Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

What does Miscue Analysis help teachers to understand?

1. How well students can spell

2. How students are using specific reading strategies

3. Students' mathematical problem-solving abilities

4. Students' comprehension of math concepts

The correct answer is: How students are using specific reading strategies

Miscue Analysis is a valuable tool for educators to assess how students approach reading and the strategies they utilize while engaging with text. By analyzing miscues, which are errors or deviations from a text that a reader makes while reading aloud, teachers can gain insights into a variety of aspects regarding a student's reading process. These aspects include how the student decodes words, makes predictions, and uses context clues, among other strategies. When students make miscues, they often reveal their thought processes and the strategies they employ to make sense of the text. For instance, if a student substitutes a word that is semantically or syntactically similar to the intended word, it may indicate that they are using context or comprehension strategies effectively. Conversely, more random miscues may suggest a lack of understanding or inadequate decoding skills. By understanding the specific reading strategies students are using, teachers can tailor their instruction to better support individual learners. This might involve providing targeted interventions, introducing new strategies, or reinforcing effective practices. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the critical role of Miscue Analysis in identifying and understanding the reading strategies employed by students.