New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is a key characteristic of phonetic spelling?

1. Relying on visual recognition of words

2. Using sound awareness to guess letters and spelling

3. Focusing only on high-frequency sight words

4. Using spelling tests as the primary assessment

The correct answer is: Using sound awareness to guess letters and spelling

A key characteristic of phonetic spelling is the use of sound awareness to guess letters and spelling. This approach emphasizes the correspondence between sounds in spoken language and the letters that represent those sounds in written language. When students engage in phonetic spelling, they break down words into their individual sounds and attempt to represent those sounds with letters, which may not always conform to standard spelling conventions. This method highlights the importance of phonemic awareness in literacy development, as it encourages learners to listen carefully to the sounds within words and to blend those sounds together when writing. It fosters a deeper understanding of the phonetic structure of language, enabling students to become more proficient spellers over time as they develop their decoding skills. In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of reading and writing skills, which do not directly align with the principles of phonetic spelling. For example, visual recognition and reliance on sight words pertain more to reading strategies rather than spelling. Furthermore, using spelling tests as the primary assessment doesn't capture the essence of phonetic spelling itself but rather assesses spelling proficiency in general.