Mississippi Foundations of Reading Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The part of a syllable that includes its vowel and any following consonant sounds is known as the rime. When breaking down a syllable, the rime consists of the vowel sound along with any consonants that come after it in the same syllable. For example, in the word "cat," the rime is "at," which includes the vowel "a" and the consonant "t." Understanding the rime is crucial for phonics instruction, as it helps learners decode words and recognize patterns in spelling and pronunciation.

In contrast, phonemes are the individual sounds in words, while the onset refers specifically to the initial consonant sounds that occur before the rime. Segmentation involves breaking words into their individual phonemes or syllable components, but does not define the rime itself. Thus, focusing on rime is essential for grasping syllable structure and enhancing reading skills.