Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which instructional strategy involves teaching readers how to look for main ideas?

1. Strategies for early readers

2. Strategies for emergent readers

3. Strategies for fluent readers

4. Strategies for transitional readers

The correct answer is: Strategies for early readers

The focus on teaching readers how to look for main ideas is a fundamental component of reading comprehension and often aligns with strategies for early readers. Early readers are typically beginning to develop their reading skills and comprehension abilities; thus, equipping them with strategies to identify main ideas is essential for their growth. This strategy involves guiding them to discern significant information from texts, aiding in their ability to summarize and understand what they read. It lays the groundwork for more complex comprehension skills that they will develop as their reading ability increases. While transitional, emergent, or fluent readers may also benefit from learning how to identify main ideas, the foundation is usually laid in the early stages of reading development. Early readers are in the process of building their understanding of text structures, making it the best fit for this instructional strategy.