New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

In teaching parts of speech, what is an example of an inductive approach?

1. Multiple-choice worksheets

2. Listing words in categories

3. Lecture-based instruction

4. Textbook definitions

The correct answer is: Listing words in categories

An inductive approach to teaching parts of speech involves giving students examples and having them derive the rules or categories themselves. Listing words in categories exemplifies this method because it encourages learners to observe and analyze how different words function within language. By categorizing words based on their shared characteristics (for instance, nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.), students engage in active learning, allowing them to discover the underlying principles of the parts of speech. This approach fosters critical thinking and deeper understanding as students recognize patterns and make generalizations based on specific instances. In contrast, the other methods, such as multiple-choice worksheets, lecture-based instruction, or relying solely on textbook definitions, tend to be more didactic, providing information in a direct manner without encouraging students to explore and construct their own understanding.