Wisconsin FORT (Foundations of Reading) Practice Test

What is a key component of effective phonemic awareness instruction?

1. Focusing solely on letter names

2. Encouraging guesswork

3. Using phoneme games and activities

4. Relying on visuals alone

The correct answer is: Focusing solely on letter names

Focusing solely on letter names is not a key component of effective phonemic awareness instruction. Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. Therefore, the correct answer is not A. Encouraging guesswork can lead to confusion and ineffective phonemic awareness development, so this is not a key component of effective instruction. Using phoneme games and activities is an essential component of effective phonemic awareness instruction because it helps students practice listening to and manipulating individual sounds in words, which is the foundation of phonemic awareness. Relying on visuals alone does not directly support the development of phonemic awareness, as it is primarily an auditory skill. While visuals can sometimes be helpful in supporting instruction, they should not be the sole focus when teaching phonemic awareness.