Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What comes before phonics instruction?

1. Listening to music

2. Learning the alphabet

3. Phonemic awareness

4. Reading comprehension

The correct answer is: Phonemic awareness

Phonemic awareness is a crucial precursor to phonics instruction because it develops a child's understanding of the individual sounds (phonemes) that make up words. Before students can successfully decode words using phonics, they need to be able to identify and manipulate these sounds in spoken language. This foundational skill enables them to connect sounds with their corresponding letters or letter combinations when they begin phonics instruction. While learning the alphabet is also important, it typically follows the development of phonemic awareness. Listening to music and reading comprehension are less directly related to the specific skills needed to decode written language through phonics, making them less relevant as a precursor to phonics instruction.