Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

In a shared reading experience, what is the teacher’s primary action?

1. Reading with the whole class, stopping at strategic points to ask questions

2. Assigning independent reading tasks to students

3. Enforcing a strict reading schedule

4. Pairing students for reading activities

The correct answer is: Reading with the whole class, stopping at strategic points to ask questions

The teacher's primary action in a shared reading experience is to engage the whole class in the reading process while facilitating comprehension and critical thinking. This involves reading aloud together and intentionally stopping at strategic points to ask questions, encourage predictions, or highlight important aspects of the text. This interactive approach not only models fluent reading but also helps students to think deeply about the content, fostering their ability to make connections and enhance understanding of the material. By encouraging participation and discussion throughout the reading, the teacher creates a rich learning environment that promotes literacy skills. While other options may contribute to literacy development in different contexts, they do not encapsulate the core of shared reading, which is focused on collaborative engagement and comprehension through guided discussion.