Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which instructional approach focuses on students' own experiences as the primary topics for reading?

1. Language experience approach

2. Phonics-based approach

3. Syntactic approach

4. Whole language approach

The correct answer is: Language experience approach

The language experience approach focuses on connecting students' prior experiences to their reading materials. This helps to create a meaningful and relevant learning experience for students. In contrast, the phonics-based approach focuses more on teaching students the rules and patterns of language for reading. The syntactic approach focuses on teaching grammar and syntax as a means to understanding reading materials. The whole language approach combines multiple instructional approaches, but does not specifically prioritize students' own experiences. Therefore, the language experience approach stands out as the best option for focusing on students' personal experiences in reading.