New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is the first step in learning phonics?

1. Understanding words in context

2. Learning letter names and their sounds

3. Memorizing high-frequency sight words

4. Practicing writing skills

The correct answer is: Learning letter names and their sounds

The first step in learning phonics involves learning letter names and their corresponding sounds. This foundational skill is crucial for understanding how written language works. By recognizing letters and knowing the sounds they represent, students can begin to decode words. This process of matching sounds to letters enables them to read unfamiliar words by sounding them out, which is a vital skill in early literacy development. Other approaches such as understanding words in context or memorizing sight words come into play later in reading development, as they rely on a prior understanding of phonics. While practicing writing skills can support literacy, it often builds upon the initial grasp of letter-sound relationships. Thus, mastering letter names and sounds lays the groundwork for all subsequent reading and writing skills.