New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What type of instruction does a phonics-based reading program utilize?

1. Top-down instruction

2. Bottom-up instruction

3. Integrated instruction

4. Transactional instruction

The correct answer is: Bottom-up instruction

A phonics-based reading program utilizes bottom-up instruction, which emphasizes the systematic teaching of the smallest units of sound (phonemes) and their corresponding letters or letter combinations (graphemes). This approach starts with individual sounds and builds up to connect those sounds to form words and sentences. In a phonics-based program, learners are taught to decode words by sounding them out, which is crucial for developing reading fluency and comprehension. By focusing on the basic building blocks of language, students can develop the skills needed for independent reading. This method is grounded in the understanding that proficient reading requires mastering these foundational elements to understand larger texts. This contrasts with other instructional approaches. For example, top-down instruction typically focuses on using background knowledge and context clues to understand text without emphasizing the decoding of individual sounds. Integrated instruction merges multiple methods, and transactional instruction involves an interactive exchange between reader and text but does not focus primarily on the phonics aspect. In summary, bottom-up instruction is essential in phonics-based programs as it lays a solid foundation for successful reading skills.