TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

What does research suggest about the timing of phonics instruction for beginning readers?

1. Phonics should be taught only after students demonstrate reading fluency

2. Phonics instruction is most effective when implemented alongside comprehension strategies

3. Phonics should begin as soon as students can recognize letters

4. Phonics instruction is less important than vocabulary building during early literacy

The correct answer is: Phonics instruction is most effective when implemented alongside comprehension strategies

Research indicates that early and systematic phonics instruction is crucial for beginning readers and that this instruction is most effective when integrated with comprehension strategies. By teaching phonics alongside comprehension, students not only learn to decode words but also develop the ability to understand and make meaning from what they read. This integrated approach helps them to connect the sounds they are learning to actual texts, enhancing their overall reading skills. While phonics is essential, learning is further reinforced when students apply these skills in context, which comprehension strategies facilitate. This dual approach helps students recognize the importance of both decoding and understanding, making reading a more holistic process. Other options lack this integration. For example, phonics instruction after demonstrating reading fluency can delay critical foundational skills that support reading development. Waiting until students can recognize letters fails to capitalize on the window of opportunity for phonics learning. Lastly, undervaluing phonics in favor of vocabulary building diminishes the importance of a broad range of literacy skills required for early readers to thrive.