TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

How is phonemic awareness connected to emergent literacy?

1. It enhances pronunciation of spoken words

2. It helps distinguish the sequences of phonemes in words

3. It improves students' listening comprehension

4. It prepares students to match their listening comprehension

The correct answer is: It prepares students to match their listening comprehension

Phonemic awareness is a critical component of emergent literacy, focusing specifically on the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This skill serves as a foundational element for learning to read and write. The connection of phonemic awareness to emergent literacy primarily lies in its preparation for more advanced literacy skills, such as decoding and spelling. By developing phonemic awareness, students learn to understand the sound structure of language, allowing them to match sounds to letters as they begin to develop their reading abilities. This process is essential for learning how to read words fluently and confidently. While listening comprehension is important, phonemic awareness specifically trains children to notice and work with sounds, providing them the tools needed to decode words independently later on. Thus, the correct choice reflects the preparatory role that phonemic awareness plays in matching sounds and improving overall literacy skills.