New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which of the following is a recommended strategy for teaching letter identification?

1. Teach confusing letter pairs simultaneously

2. Use texts for students to circle specific letters

3. Limit activities to only visual recognition

4. Only focus on lowercase letters

The correct answer is: Use texts for students to circle specific letters

Using texts for students to circle specific letters is an effective teaching strategy for letter identification because it actively engages students in the reading process. This method not only reinforces visual recognition of letters but also allows students to practice their scanning and tracking skills in the context of actual reading material. By circling letters in a text, students are more likely to connect letters with sounds and words, enhancing their understanding of how letters function within language. This contextualized approach makes learning meaningful and helps solidify their identification skills as they interact with text. The other strategies do not provide the same level of effective engagement or developmental appropriateness. For instance, teaching confusing letter pairs simultaneously might overwhelm students, while limiting activities to only visual recognition neglects the importance of phonemic awareness and context in literacy development. Focusing exclusively on lowercase letters can also lead to gaps in students’ recognition skills, considering that they will encounter uppercase letters frequently in various texts.