WGU D668 Elementary Literacy Curriculum |
Western Governors University | Academic
Year 2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Literacy Development
1. A kindergarten teacher observes a student pointing to the word "McDonald's"
on a sign and saying, "That says McDonald's because of the big M." This behavior
most clearly demonstrates which phase of word reading development?
A) Pre-alphabetic phase
B) Partial alphabetic phase
C) Full alphabetic phase
D) Consolidated alphabetic phase
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the partial alphabetic phase, children use some letter-sound
correspondences—particularly salient letters like the initial letter—to identify
words. The student is using the initial /m/ sound and the visual cue of the "big M"
to recognize the word, which is characteristic of this phase. The pre-alphabetic
phase involves no letter-sound knowledge, relying instead on visual cues like
logos. The full alphabetic phase involves complete decoding of all letters, and the
consolidated phase involves recognizing chunks and patterns .
2. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a literacy-rich
classroom environment?
A) To display student work and decorate the classroom attractively
B) To provide a quiet space for independent reading only
C) To foster the connection of letter-sound and letter-word within meaning
contexts
D) To ensure all books are at the same reading level for equity
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: A literacy-rich environment is designed to immerse students in
meaningful print and language experiences. Its goal is to connect letters, sounds,
and words in authentic contexts, not just to decorate or provide quiet space.
While displaying student work and providing reading spaces are elements, they
are not the primary purpose. A literacy-rich environment includes books at
various levels to meet diverse student needs .
3. According to Scarborough's Reading Rope, which strands constitute the "word
recognition" portion?
A) Background knowledge and vocabulary
B) Phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition
C) Language structures and verbal reasoning
D) Literacy knowledge and sight recognition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scarborough's Reading Rope illustrates the many strands that
weave together to create skilled reading. The bottom strand represents word
recognition and includes phonological awareness, decoding (phonics), and sight
recognition of familiar words. The top strand represents language
comprehension, which includes background knowledge, vocabulary, language
structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge .
4. A first-grade teacher notices that several students can identify individual letter
sounds but struggle to blend those sounds into whole words while reading
decodable texts. Which instructional adjustment would be MOST appropriate?
A) Increase independent silent reading time
B) Provide explicit oral blending practice using phoneme segmentation activities
C) Introduce multisyllabic word instruction
D) Shift focus to vocabulary instruction
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Students who can isolate sounds but struggle with blending
need explicit phoneme blending practice. This is a foundational phonemic
awareness skill that must be secure before students can successfully decode
words in text. Increasing silent reading (A) would not address the underlying
blending deficit. Multisyllabic instruction (C) and vocabulary instruction (D) are
not appropriate when basic blending is not yet established .
5. Which statement most accurately describes how students develop literacy?
A) Students develop literacy primarily by reading independently
B) Students develop literacy by reading, writing, listening, and speaking
C) Students develop literacy by reading, writing, and listening to speech
D) Students develop literacy by reading and writing only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Literacy development is a multifaceted process that involves
reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These language modalities are
interconnected and mutually supportive. Oral language serves as the foundation
for reading and writing development. Narrowing literacy development to only
reading or only reading and writing ignores the critical roles of oral language and
listening comprehension .
6. A teacher is using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. What
is the primary purpose of Tier 1 instruction?
A) To provide intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant
reading difficulties
B) To deliver high-quality, evidence-based core instruction to all students
C) To screen all students for potential reading disabilities
D) To provide supplemental small-group instruction for struggling readers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In an MTSS framework, Tier 1 is the universal level that
provides high-quality, evidence-based core instruction to all students. Tier 2
, provides supplemental small-group interventions for students needing additional
support, and Tier 3 provides intensive, individualized support. Screening is a
component of MTSS but not the purpose of Tier 1 instruction .
7. Which of the following is a key characteristic of explicit instruction in literacy?
A) Students discover letter-sound relationships through guided discovery
activities
B) The teacher provides clear explanations, modeling, guided practice, and
feedback
C) Students learn primarily through independent reading and writing
D) The teacher uses a variety of texts without direct teaching of skills
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Explicit instruction is a systematic and direct teaching approach
where educators clearly and directly teach specific concepts, skills, or strategies. It
involves providing clear explanations, modeling, guided practice, and feedback to
facilitate understanding and mastery. This approach is central to structured
literacy and is particularly effective for students at risk for reading difficulties .
8. Structured literacy is supported by one subset of a larger body of research
often referred to as the "Science of Reading." Which subset supports Structured
Literacy?
A) Research into culturally sustaining pedagogy
B) The science of reading comprehension instruction
C) The science of learning to read words
D) The science of engagement and motivation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Structured Literacy is specifically supported by the science of
learning to read words, which encompasses research on phonological awareness,
phonics, decoding, and word recognition. While comprehension instruction and
Western Governors University | Academic
Year 2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Literacy Development
1. A kindergarten teacher observes a student pointing to the word "McDonald's"
on a sign and saying, "That says McDonald's because of the big M." This behavior
most clearly demonstrates which phase of word reading development?
A) Pre-alphabetic phase
B) Partial alphabetic phase
C) Full alphabetic phase
D) Consolidated alphabetic phase
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the partial alphabetic phase, children use some letter-sound
correspondences—particularly salient letters like the initial letter—to identify
words. The student is using the initial /m/ sound and the visual cue of the "big M"
to recognize the word, which is characteristic of this phase. The pre-alphabetic
phase involves no letter-sound knowledge, relying instead on visual cues like
logos. The full alphabetic phase involves complete decoding of all letters, and the
consolidated phase involves recognizing chunks and patterns .
2. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a literacy-rich
classroom environment?
A) To display student work and decorate the classroom attractively
B) To provide a quiet space for independent reading only
C) To foster the connection of letter-sound and letter-word within meaning
contexts
D) To ensure all books are at the same reading level for equity
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: A literacy-rich environment is designed to immerse students in
meaningful print and language experiences. Its goal is to connect letters, sounds,
and words in authentic contexts, not just to decorate or provide quiet space.
While displaying student work and providing reading spaces are elements, they
are not the primary purpose. A literacy-rich environment includes books at
various levels to meet diverse student needs .
3. According to Scarborough's Reading Rope, which strands constitute the "word
recognition" portion?
A) Background knowledge and vocabulary
B) Phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition
C) Language structures and verbal reasoning
D) Literacy knowledge and sight recognition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scarborough's Reading Rope illustrates the many strands that
weave together to create skilled reading. The bottom strand represents word
recognition and includes phonological awareness, decoding (phonics), and sight
recognition of familiar words. The top strand represents language
comprehension, which includes background knowledge, vocabulary, language
structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge .
4. A first-grade teacher notices that several students can identify individual letter
sounds but struggle to blend those sounds into whole words while reading
decodable texts. Which instructional adjustment would be MOST appropriate?
A) Increase independent silent reading time
B) Provide explicit oral blending practice using phoneme segmentation activities
C) Introduce multisyllabic word instruction
D) Shift focus to vocabulary instruction
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Students who can isolate sounds but struggle with blending
need explicit phoneme blending practice. This is a foundational phonemic
awareness skill that must be secure before students can successfully decode
words in text. Increasing silent reading (A) would not address the underlying
blending deficit. Multisyllabic instruction (C) and vocabulary instruction (D) are
not appropriate when basic blending is not yet established .
5. Which statement most accurately describes how students develop literacy?
A) Students develop literacy primarily by reading independently
B) Students develop literacy by reading, writing, listening, and speaking
C) Students develop literacy by reading, writing, and listening to speech
D) Students develop literacy by reading and writing only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Literacy development is a multifaceted process that involves
reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These language modalities are
interconnected and mutually supportive. Oral language serves as the foundation
for reading and writing development. Narrowing literacy development to only
reading or only reading and writing ignores the critical roles of oral language and
listening comprehension .
6. A teacher is using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. What
is the primary purpose of Tier 1 instruction?
A) To provide intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant
reading difficulties
B) To deliver high-quality, evidence-based core instruction to all students
C) To screen all students for potential reading disabilities
D) To provide supplemental small-group instruction for struggling readers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In an MTSS framework, Tier 1 is the universal level that
provides high-quality, evidence-based core instruction to all students. Tier 2
, provides supplemental small-group interventions for students needing additional
support, and Tier 3 provides intensive, individualized support. Screening is a
component of MTSS but not the purpose of Tier 1 instruction .
7. Which of the following is a key characteristic of explicit instruction in literacy?
A) Students discover letter-sound relationships through guided discovery
activities
B) The teacher provides clear explanations, modeling, guided practice, and
feedback
C) Students learn primarily through independent reading and writing
D) The teacher uses a variety of texts without direct teaching of skills
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Explicit instruction is a systematic and direct teaching approach
where educators clearly and directly teach specific concepts, skills, or strategies. It
involves providing clear explanations, modeling, guided practice, and feedback to
facilitate understanding and mastery. This approach is central to structured
literacy and is particularly effective for students at risk for reading difficulties .
8. Structured literacy is supported by one subset of a larger body of research
often referred to as the "Science of Reading." Which subset supports Structured
Literacy?
A) Research into culturally sustaining pedagogy
B) The science of reading comprehension instruction
C) The science of learning to read words
D) The science of engagement and motivation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Structured Literacy is specifically supported by the science of
learning to read words, which encompasses research on phonological awareness,
phonics, decoding, and word recognition. While comprehension instruction and
