Prepare for the Reading Specialist 221 Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to enhance your readiness. Ace your test!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words before reading print?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words. This means identifying the separate sounds (phonemes) in a word, blending those sounds to form the word, segmenting a word into its sounds, or changing one sound to make a new word, all without using written letters. This prereading skill lays the foundation for decoding because it helps students connect sounds they hear to the letters they will learn in phonics. By contrast, morpheme refers to units of meaning within words, prosody is about rhythm and intonation in speech, and fluency involves reading with speed, accuracy, and expression.

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words. This means identifying the separate sounds (phonemes) in a word, blending those sounds to form the word, segmenting a word into its sounds, or changing one sound to make a new word, all without using written letters. This prereading skill lays the foundation for decoding because it helps students connect sounds they hear to the letters they will learn in phonics. By contrast, morpheme refers to units of meaning within words, prosody is about rhythm and intonation in speech, and fluency involves reading with speed, accuracy, and expression.