Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Special Education Practice Exam

Phonics instruction primarily supports which of the following skills?

1. Grammar skills necessary for writing

2. Spelling proficiency for narrative texts

3. Word identification through letter-sound relationships

4. Comprehension skills in reading complex texts

The correct answer is: Word identification through letter-sound relationships

Phonics instruction primarily supports word identification through letter-sound relationships. This method of teaching helps students understand the connection between letters and the sounds they represent, which is fundamental in developing reading skills. When students learn to decode words using phonics, they are able to break down unfamiliar words into manageable parts, making it easier to recognize them in the context of a text. Mastery of these sound-letter relationships allows students to read more fluently, understand the text better, and ultimately enhance their overall literacy skills. While grammar, spelling proficiency, and reading comprehension are important aspects of literacy, they are not the direct focus of phonics instruction. Instead, phonics lays the foundational skills necessary for advancing in these other areas. Through effective phonics instruction, students gain the ability to identify words accurately and build their confidence as readers.