FTCE Reading K-12 Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Study Guide for Guaranteed Success!

Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language, which includes activities that focus on phonemes, syllables, and onsets and rimes. Written word puzzles do not typically fall under the category of phonological awareness activities, as they primarily involve reading and writing tasks rather than the auditory processing of sounds.

In contrast, oral blending exercises encourage students to combine spoken sounds into words, enhancing their ability to hear and manipulate phonemes. Listening games engage students in identifying and distinguishing sounds, which is fundamental to phonological awareness. Rhyming tasks involve recognizing and producing rhyming words, further cementing a student's understanding of sound similarities and variations in spoken words. These activities are all designed to enhance auditory skills, making them integral to developing phonological awareness. Thus, written word puzzles, which emphasize visual and written language skills rather than auditory sound recognition, are not typically associated with phonological awareness activities.