Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

What is the primary focus of phonics instruction?

1. Reading comprehension and vocabulary enhancement

2. Identifying themes in literature

3. Sound, syllable, and letter relationships for reading and spelling

4. Writing structure and grammar rules

The correct answer is: Sound, syllable, and letter relationships for reading and spelling

The primary focus of phonics instruction is on sound, syllable, and letter relationships for reading and spelling. Phonics teaches students how to connect the sounds of spoken language with the letters and written words. This foundational skill is essential for deciphering words while reading and understanding how to spell them correctly. Phonics instruction enables learners to grasp the alphabetic principle, which is the understanding that letters and letter combinations represent the sounds of spoken language. This is a crucial component of early literacy development, as it provides students with the tools to decode new words, thus enhancing their reading fluency and comprehension over time. By focusing on these relationships, phonics helps children become more independent and proficient readers. In contrast, the other options emphasize aspects of literacy that are separate from the primary objective of phonics. For example, reading comprehension and vocabulary enhancement are outcomes that can result from effective phonics instruction, but they are not the primary focus of the phonics approach itself. Similarly, identifying themes in literature and understanding writing structure and grammar rules relate to higher-order literacy skills that build on the foundation that phonics provides.