Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

In which approach is the emphasis placed on letters and their corresponding sounds?

1. whole language

2. synthetic phonics

3. suprasegmental

4. word parts

The correct answer is: synthetic phonics

The correct answer focuses on synthetic phonics, an instructional method that emphasizes the systematic teaching of letters and their corresponding sounds. This approach involves breaking down words into their component sounds (phonemes) and blending them to form words. Students learn to associate specific letters or groups of letters with specific sounds, which helps them decode unfamiliar words when reading. In synthetic phonics, the goal is to develop strong foundational skills in phonemic awareness, allowing learners to manipulate sounds and letters effectively. This systematic approach supports early readers as they build their decoding skills, leading to improved reading fluency and comprehension. The other options represent different reading instruction methodologies. For example, whole language emphasizes reading comprehension and exposure to literature rather than a focus on phonics. Suprasegmental relates to elements of speech beyond individual sounds, such as intonation and stress, while word parts typically refer to morphological analysis involving prefixes and suffixes. These approaches do not center on the direct teaching of sound-letter relationships in the way synthetic phonics does.