TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

What is one common prerequisite skill that should be addressed before teaching reading comprehension?

1. Knowledge of grammar rules

2. Ability to summarize main ideas

3. Phonemic awareness

4. Ability to make inferences from texts

The correct answer is: Phonemic awareness

Phonemic awareness is a foundational skill crucial for reading development. It refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. Before a child can effectively comprehend what they read, they need to be able to decode the words on the page, which relies heavily on their phonemic awareness. This skill sets the stage for learning how letters and sounds correspond, which is essential for reading fluency and ultimately comprehension. Children with strong phonemic awareness can recognize words more easily, leading to improved understanding of the text as they read. In contrast, without a solid grasp of phonemic awareness, students may struggle with decoding, which can hinder their overall reading comprehension skills. Thus, addressing phonemic awareness is a critical step before diving into more complex strategies like summarizing main ideas or making inferences from texts.