TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

Which activity would NOT help develop a student's phonemic awareness?

1. Sounding out words one phoneme at a time

2. Engaging in letter-sound matching games

3. Reading aloud to increase vocabulary acquisition

4. Clapping out the syllables of a given word

The correct answer is: Reading aloud to increase vocabulary acquisition

Developing phonemic awareness involves understanding and manipulating the individual sounds in spoken language. Sounding out words one phoneme at a time and engaging in letter-sound matching games explicitly focus on identifying and working with phonemes, thereby enhancing phonemic awareness. Clapping out the syllables of a given word also relates to breaking down the word into its rhythmic elements, which helps with phonological awareness but is more focused on syllables rather than individual sounds. Reading aloud, while beneficial for vocabulary acquisition and comprehension, does not directly target phonemic awareness. This activity primarily exposes students to new words and meanings rather than facilitating the understanding of how sounds function within words. As such, it does not contribute directly to developing the skills necessary to isolate and manipulate phonemes. Thus, engaging in reading aloud is the activity that would not help develop a student's phonemic awareness.