Teaching Reading Exam: Understanding the Framework

Hi, welcome back. I'm Kathleen Jasper, and today we're talking about some of the most common reading certification exams, the Praxis Teaching Reading 5205, Foundations of Reading 190 and 890, and the STR 293. While these tests have different names and formats, they all focus on the same thing, the science of teaching reading. Reading instruction is one of the most important skills educators can master because it impacts every subject area. The foundation of effective reading instruction rests on three key principles. It must be explicit, systematic, and recursive. Explicit instruction means directly teaching and modeling skills. Systematic instruction follows a logical sequence from simple concepts to more complex ones. Recursive instruction recognizes that students often need to revisit earlier skills to continue progressing. One word you'll see repeatedly on these exams is explicit. In fact, when evaluating answer choices, that word is often a strong clue you're heading in the right direction. You'll also need to understand the big five of reading, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Reading development follows a progression. Students first learn foundational skills like phonemic awareness and phonics. Those skills support fluency, which then allows readers to focus on vocabulary and comprehension. A common theme on these exams is identifying the next best instructional step for a student. The key is to determine where the student is on the reading continuum. If foundational skills aren't secure, instruction should target those gaps before moving to higher-level skills. For example, if a student struggles with consonant blends, the best next step is explicit phonics instruction, not vocabulary or comprehension practice. Remember, these exams aren't just testing what you know about reading. They're testing whether you understand how reading develops and how effective instruction supports that development. Master the science of reading and you'll be well prepared for test day. For additional resources to help you pass your teaching reading exam, be sure to visit my website at kathleenjasper.com. You'll find tools and support designed to help you succeed on test day. And don't forget to follow me on social media for more exam tips, teaching strategies, and the latest updates on teacher certification. Thanks for listening and I'll see you in the next episode.