New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

An English Language Learner pronounces tigers as tiger when reading the sentence "They saw tigers at the zoo." What is the most appropriate first action for the teacher?

1. Guide the student in reading lists of nouns with and without plural -s on the end.

2. Verify that the student understands that tigers means more than one tiger.

3. Provide the student with independent practice in adding plural -s to singular nouns.

4. Provide a picture card to determine whether the student can identify a tiger.

The correct answer is: Verify that the student understands that tigers means more than one tiger.

The most appropriate first action for the teacher in this scenario is to verify that the student understands that "tigers" means more than one "tiger." Understanding plural forms is crucial for English Language Learners, as they often face challenges with vocabulary and grammar that differ from their native languages. By confirming the student’s comprehension of the concept of pluralization, the teacher ensures that the student is not only able to recognize the word "tigers" but also grasp its meaning in context. This foundational understanding is essential for the student to enhance their reading fluency and to build on more complex language skills later. Taking this approach allows the teacher to address potential gaps in the student’s knowledge directly and can inform subsequent instructional steps, such as vocabulary enhancement or phonics practice. It encourages comprehension and reinforces the relationship between language structure and meaning, which is particularly critical for English Language Learners.