FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

A student struggles with sounding out words and understanding their meaning. What skill is the teacher targeting with letter-sound recognition activities?

1. Fluency

2. Comprehension

3. Decoding

4. Vocabulary

The correct answer is: Decoding

The skill being targeted with letter-sound recognition activities is decoding. Decoding refers to the ability to translate written symbols (letters and words) into spoken sounds. This skill is fundamental for students as it enables them to pronounce words correctly and is especially crucial for students who struggle with sounding out words. By focusing on letter-sound relationships, the teacher is helping the student to break down words into their individual phonetic components, which is essential for developing reading proficiency. Decoding is closely related to other skills like fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary; however, it specifically involves the initial step of understanding how letters correspond to sounds. Fluency involves reading with speed and accuracy, comprehension refers to understanding the meaning of the text, and vocabulary encompasses the knowledge of word meanings. In this case, the primary focus is on enabling the student to successfully decode words, paving the way for improved reading skills and overall literacy.