Question

A kindergarten teacher sets a benchmark goal for students to quickly recognize a set of ten new sight words within a three-week instructional time period. The teacher introduces the words by using flash cards and engages students in a series of activities that reinforce learning within authentic contexts. During this time, the teacher also creates a small-group workshop activity in which students view each word printed in large letters on a card, say the word, and then use pipe cleaners to form the word. Which of the following is the primary benefit to students of participating in the workshop activity?

A.Improving long-term memory of a nondecodable word by engaging multiple student senses in learning
B.Building a student's reading fluency by improving the ability to flexibly apply phonological awareness skills
C.Increasing a student's ability to use several sensory modalities to phonetically decode and recognize an unknown word
D.Reinforcing recognition of a word through a student's ability to connect visual language symbols with sounds that the symbols represent

Answer 1

The workshop activity's primary benefit is improving students' long-term memory of sight words by engaging multiple senses. This multisensory approach helps embed the words deeply in memory, supported by research showing increased retention through such activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary benefit to students of participating in the workshop activity, in which they view sight words printed in large letters on a card, say the word, and then use pipe cleaners to form the word, is improving long-term memory of a nondecodable word by engaging multiple student senses in learning. This multisensory approach can include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements, which helps in embedding the words more deeply into memory. Studies support this method, showing that actions such as saying words out loud or forming them with physical materials can increase memorability and distinctiveness, thereby enhancing memory retention.