TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

What skill is being assessed when a teacher requires a kindergarten student to identify the front of a book and the direction of print?

1. Emergent literacy

2. Structural analysis skills

3. Print connections

4. Concepts about print

The correct answer is: Concepts about print

The skill being assessed when a teacher requires a kindergarten student to identify the front of a book and the direction of print is concepts about print. This refers to a child's understanding of the basic conventions and function of print in written language. It encompasses awareness of the physical features of books, such as recognizing the front and back covers, understanding how to hold a book, knowing that print is written from left to right and top to bottom, and realizing that words convey meaning. Mastery of these concepts is essential as it lays the foundation for reading and writing skills. In the context of early reading instruction, establishing a solid grasp of concepts about print helps students navigate texts and develops their ability to decode and comprehend written information in later stages. Other options such as emergent literacy focus more broadly on any behaviors or skills that a young child exhibits as they begin to read and write, whereas structural analysis skills typically involve understanding parts of words like prefixes or suffixes, which is more advanced than what kindergarten students would be focused on. Print connections, while related, generally pertain to the relationship between spoken and written language rather than the mechanics of print itself.