Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What is a key instructional strategy to recognize and interpret figurative language?

1. Explicitly teaching and providing examples

2. Asking students to locate figurative language on their own

3. Discussing figurative language without providing examples

4. Ignoring figurative language in the texts

The correct answer is: Explicitly teaching and providing examples

Explicitly teaching and providing examples of figurative language is an effective instructional strategy because it lays a solid foundation for students’ understanding. This approach does more than just introduce students to terms like metaphor, simile, or personification; it allows them to see these concepts in action, making the abstract more tangible. By providing clear definitions alongside concrete examples, educators help students make connections to the figurative language present in texts. This scaffolding enables learners to recognize these devices when they encounter them in literature and other forms of writing. Additionally, explicit teaching often includes the analysis of why the author chose specific figurative expressions, which enhances comprehension and critical thinking skills. In contrast, simply asking students to locate figurative language without prior explicit instruction may lead to confusion, as they may struggle to identify or understand the purpose of such elements. Discussing figurative language without examples can lack the clarity needed for deeper understanding, and ignoring it completely results in missed opportunities for enriched reading experiences and literary analysis.