Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice

What is the primary goal of teaching phonics within reading?

1. To memorize texts word-for-word

2. To help students decode words by sounding them out

3. To encourage guessing the meanings of words

4. To improve writing skills exclusively

The correct answer is: To help students decode words by sounding them out

The primary goal of teaching phonics within reading is to help students decode words by sounding them out. Phonics provides a systematic way of understanding the relationship between letters and sounds (phonemes), which is essential for reading proficiency. By learning phonics, students develop the ability to break down words into their individual sounds and blend those sounds to form words, facilitating independent reading and comprehension. This foundational skill is critical as it empowers learners to tackle unfamiliar words, thus broadening their reading vocabulary and improving their overall reading fluency. Mastery of phonics also plays a significant role in enhancing comprehension because when students can fluently decode words, they can focus their cognitive resources on understanding the meaning of the text rather than getting stuck on individual words. Other options, such as memorizing texts word-for-word, do not promote a deep understanding of reading mechanics and can inhibit students from developing flexible reading strategies. Guessing the meanings of words lacks the systematic approach that phonics teaching provides, leading to uncertainty in word recognition. Additionally, while writing skills are important, they are not exclusively improved through phonics; writing and reading have distinct instructional goals and methodologies.