Which of the following is NOT a foundational reading skill?

Which of the following is NOT a foundational reading skill?

• A. Phonemic awareness skills
• B. Automaticity
• C. Comprehension strategies
• D. Reading fluency

Answer: (C)

Comprehension strategies are an essential part of reading but are not defined as foundational reading skills. Foundational reading skills primarily focus on the basic abilities needed to decode words and recognize them automatically. Phonemic awareness skills, for instance, lay the groundwork for understanding the sounds in words, which is critical for developing reading abilities. Automaticity refers to the ability to recognize words quickly and effortlessly, a necessary skill for fluent reading. Reading fluency, which combines automatic word recognition with appropriate pacing and expression, is also a crucial foundational skill that contributes to overall reading proficiency. While comprehension strategies are vital for understanding and interpreting text, they build upon these foundational skills rather than being foundational themselves. Therefore, comprehension strategies are considered a higher-level skill that relies on the successful execution of the fundamental components of reading.

Comprehension strategies are an essential part of reading but are not defined as foundational reading skills. Foundational reading skills primarily focus on the basic abilities needed to decode words and recognize them automatically.

Phonemic awareness skills, for instance, lay the groundwork for understanding the sounds in words, which is critical for developing reading abilities. Automaticity refers to the ability to recognize words quickly and effortlessly, a necessary skill for fluent reading. Reading fluency, which combines automatic word recognition with appropriate pacing and expression, is also a crucial foundational skill that contributes to overall reading proficiency.

While comprehension strategies are vital for understanding and interpreting text, they build upon these foundational skills rather than being foundational themselves. Therefore, comprehension strategies are considered a higher-level skill that relies on the successful execution of the fundamental components of reading.