New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which skill indicates a student is best prepared for explicit phonics instruction?

1. Aware that a word has one or more phonemes

2. Ability to separate a word's onset and rime

3. Aware that words can be divided into syllables

4. Ability to segment and blend a word's phonemes

The correct answer is: Ability to segment and blend a word's phonemes

The ability to segment and blend a word's phonemes indicates that a student is well-prepared for explicit phonics instruction because this skill demonstrates a clear understanding of the smallest units of sound, or phonemes, that make up words. Phonemic awareness is crucial for phonics instruction as it lays the foundation for understanding how letters and sounds correspond to each other. A student who can segment (break down) a word into its individual sounds and then blend those sounds together to form a word is equipped with the necessary skills to apply phonics rules effectively. This ability is essential for developing reading skills, as it enables students to decode unfamiliar words by sound and recognize phonetic patterns, which is the essence of phonics instruction.