Utah Foundation of Reading Test (FORT) Practice Test 2025 - Free Reading Practice Questions and Study Guide

Print referencing serves the important purpose of directing students' attention to the features of written language. This strategy involves highlighting specific aspects of print during read-aloud sessions, such as pointing out words, letters, punctuation, and the directionality of text. By doing this, educators help students build awareness of how print functions, which is foundational for developing reading skills.

When students engage with print referencing, they begin to understand that print carries meaning and that written language has distinctive characteristics, such as word separations and capitalization. This awareness is crucial for young readers as it lays the groundwork for phonemic awareness and decoding skills. Without a focus on the features of written language, students may struggle to connect spoken language with its written form, hindering their overall literacy development.

Regarding the other options, assessing reading comprehension, providing summaries, or encouraging silent reading targets different aspects of the reading process and are not directly associated with the specific role of print referencing, which is much more focused on the visual and structural characteristics of text.