New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is a primary objective of teaching word sorts and word hunts?

1. To complicate the learning process

2. To explore random vocabulary

3. To familiarize students with spelling patterns

4. To focus solely on spelling tests

The correct answer is: To familiarize students with spelling patterns

The primary objective of teaching word sorts and word hunts is to familiarize students with spelling patterns. These instructional strategies encourage students to group words by shared features, such as phonetic components, prefixes, suffixes, or syllable patterns. By engaging with the words in this way, students develop a deeper understanding of how words are constructed and how those constructions affect pronunciation and meaning. This hands-on approach not only enhances their spelling abilities but also their overall linguistic awareness, thus promoting better reading and writing skills as they begin to recognize and apply these patterns in various contexts.