Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What type of words do decodable texts typically avoid?

1. Irregular words

2. Common sight words

3. Compound words

4. Polysyllabic words

The correct answer is: Irregular words

Decodable texts are designed to help early readers practice their decoding skills by using words that follow common phonetic patterns and spelling rules. They typically include words that can be sounded out using the phonics knowledge that students are expected to have acquired at that stage of their reading development. Irregular words, like "said," "could," or "was," do not adhere to standard phonetic patterns and cannot be easily sounded out based on the rules students learn. This makes them less suitable for decodable texts, which aim to provide a predictable reading experience where children can successfully apply their phonics skills. By focusing on regular, decodable words, these texts support developing readers in practicing their sound-letter relationships without the added challenge of irregularities, allowing for confidence-building in their reading abilities. In contrast, common sight words often include high-frequency terms that may not always be decodable but are frequently encountered in texts and are essential for fluency. Compound words and polysyllabic words may appear in decodable texts as long as they contain familiar, regular patterns, helping to gradually build complexity as students become more proficient readers.