New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is an effective strategy for teaching compound words?

1. Focusing solely on reading fluency

2. Using letter tiles or puzzles to practice word decoding

3. Asking about the origins of each word

4. Providing a definition for each compound word

The correct answer is: Using letter tiles or puzzles to practice word decoding

Using letter tiles or puzzles to practice word decoding is an effective strategy for teaching compound words because it allows students to break down and reinforce their understanding of how individual words merge to form new meanings. This hands-on approach enhances phonemic awareness and helps students visualize the components of compound words, making it easier for them to understand how these words are constructed. Through interactive activities such as arranging letter tiles or solving puzzles, students engage directly with the components of the words. This kind of active learning encourages them to identify the two parts of a compound word (such as 'sun' and 'flower' in 'sunflower') and understand how these parts contribute to the overall meaning of the compound word. This strategy not only promotes recognition and decoding skills but also helps in cementing students' knowledge of word formation in a memorable way.