New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

At what point should kindergarten children be offered a book to "read" to their teacher?

1. As soon as they can write their names

2. On the first day of school

3. Only after they can read simple sentences

4. During their first week of school

The correct answer is: On the first day of school

Offering a book for kindergarten children to "read" to their teacher on the first day of school is advantageous because it helps create a supportive and encouraging environment for emerging readers. At this stage, children may not yet have formal reading skills, but they have valuable skills such as picture recognition and storytelling. When they "read" a book, they often rely on illustrations and their previous knowledge or narratives, which fosters a sense of accomplishment and builds their confidence in literacy. Engaging with a book right away also promotes an early love of reading and allows teachers to assess children's interests and familiarity with books, setting the stage for future literacy development. By doing this from the very beginning, teachers can better support each child's individual learning path and encourage them to engage with texts, thereby enhancing their overall literacy experience.