New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

The choice of using letter/sound relationships when encountering unfamiliar words is vital because it forms a foundational aspect of phonics and word recognition. Understanding how letters correspond to sounds enables students to decode words they have not seen before. This is particularly important in reading fluently, as it allows learners to sound out unfamiliar words, breaking them down into manageable components. This skill supports vocabulary development and comprehension, as recognizing and accurately pronouncing words helps students understand the text better. While the other options also have their importance—such as using syllable sounds to identify word patterns or visual clues to support meaning—the ability to apply knowledge of letter/sound relationships is critical for decoding written language and is fundamental in the early stages of reading development. This method is not just a strategy; it is a core component of literacy that empowers students to tackle new and challenging texts with confidence.