The Role of Spoken Interaction

Abstract

<p>This chapter foregrounds the important role that oral language plays in the first few years of school. Specifically, it reviews the work of Konza (2014) who has argued that oral language is missing from one of the most influential models of early reading instruction based on the 'Big Five' keys to reading. The chapter canvasses the importance of oral language in drawing attention to sounds in words to build phonemic awareness and teaching about the alphabetic principle, right through to the importance of oral language in developing background knowledge and the foundations of reading comprehension. The chapter reminds us that oral language is a basic component'in the development of reading.</p>