What is the purpose of diagnostic teaching in early literacy?

• A. To identify each student's strengths and areas for improvement and tailor instruction accordingly.
• B. To compare students for grading purposes.
• C. To assign homework exclusively.
• D. To measure only reading speed.

Answer: (A)

Diagnostic teaching focuses on gathering information about each student's current reading and writing abilities to shape instruction. In early literacy, this means assessing foundational skills like phonemic awareness, letter-sound knowledge, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to see exactly where a learner needs support. With that information, the teacher plans targeted, differentiated instruction—small-group or individual mini-lessons, practice activities, and explicit strategies—and adjusts them as the student shows progress. This ongoing, responsive approach helps move the learner forward by addressing specific strengths and gaps, rather than ranking students, assigning homework exclusively, or measuring only one aspect like reading speed.