TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

Which activity is most effective for promoting awareness of phonemes?

1. Reading a storybook to the class

2. Playing a game that identifies beginning sounds of words

3. Discussing the theme of a passage

4. Summarizing a read-aloud session

The correct answer is: Playing a game that identifies beginning sounds of words

Promoting awareness of phonemes is crucial for developing reading skills, particularly in early literacy. Playing a game that focuses on identifying the beginning sounds of words directly targets phonemic awareness, which involves the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds in spoken language. This activity encourages students to listen carefully and distinguish different sounds, laying the foundation for decoding skills necessary for reading. In contrast, reading a storybook to the class provides exposure to words and language but does not specifically highlight the individual sounds within those words. Discussing the theme of a passage and summarizing a read-aloud session engage higher-level thinking and comprehension skills, rather than focusing on the sound structure of language. These activities do not specifically target the phonemic awareness necessary for early reading development. Therefore, engaging students in a game that emphasizes beginning sounds is the most effective approach for fostering phoneme awareness.