Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which approach does phonics-based reading instruction use?

1. Bottom-up

2. Interactive

3. Top-down

4. Whole language

The correct answer is: Bottom-up

Phonics-based reading instruction primarily uses a bottom-up approach. This method emphasizes the teaching of individual sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters or groups of letters (graphemes). Students start by learning the basic building blocks of words, such as sounds, blends, and syllables, which they then use to decode unfamiliar words. By beginning with letters and sounds, learners progress to constructing words, then sentences, and finally paragraphs. This systematic approach allows students to understand how words are formed and helps them develop the skills needed to read independently. The focus is primarily on the mechanics of reading, laying a strong foundation for further literacy development. In contrast, other approaches such as interactive or top-down methods focus more on comprehension and integrating background knowledge, which can sometimes overlook the foundational skills of decoding words. Whole language approaches emphasize meaning and the use of context, which may not provide as structured a framework for developing phonics skills as the bottom-up approach does.