New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What type of phonics instruction happens when students casually read and encounter unknown words?

1. Explicit phonics instruction

2. Implicit phonics instruction

3. Phonological instruction

4. Interactive phonics instruction

The correct answer is: Implicit phonics instruction

Implicit phonics instruction is characterized by a more casual approach to learning phonics, where students are exposed to letter-sound relationships naturally while engaged in reading activities. This occurs when learners come across unfamiliar words in context and use their existing knowledge to decode them, often relying on clues from the surrounding text or their understanding of word patterns and structures rather than receiving direct instruction focused solely on phonics rules. This method fosters a sense of discovery and enhances comprehension skills, as students learn to use context and their innate problem-solving abilities to navigate new vocabulary. Consequently, while they may not be explicitly taught a particular phonics rule beforehand, they still develop their phonics skills organically through their reading experiences.