Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is the purpose of the Shared Book Experience?

1. To teach letter sounds

2. To demonstrate text tracking skills

3. To perform phonemic manipulation

4. To assess children's writing abilities

The correct answer is: To demonstrate text tracking skills

The Shared Book Experience is primarily focused on demonstrating text tracking skills. This approach allows educators to guide children in following along with the text as it is read aloud, highlighting the connection between spoken and written words. It showcases strategies that help students understand how text is organized, such as recognizing where to start reading, how to move from left to right, and how to track words with their fingers. This interactive process not only enhances students' engagement with the text but also builds foundational reading skills, setting the stage for more advanced literacy learning. In contrast, focusing solely on letter sounds or phonemic manipulation does not encapsulate the broader purpose of the Shared Book Experience, which is more about shared comprehension and engagement with the text rather than isolated phonetic skills. Additionally, while assessing children's writing abilities is important in a literacy program, it falls outside the scope of the Shared Book Experience, which is centered on reading and text interaction rather than evaluation of writing skills.