What is meant by the term "reversals" in reading instruction?

The term "reversals" in reading instruction specifically refers to the phenomenon of reversing the order of letters in words, which can occur in the development of reading skills, especially among young learners. This might manifest as a child writing or reading "b" for "d," or "was" for "saw." Such reversals are common during the early stages of literacy development as children learn to recognize and understand letter formations and their corresponding sounds.

It is crucial to recognize that occasional reversals do not necessarily indicate a learning disability but can represent typical struggles as a child gains proficiency in reading and writing. By understanding that reversals are part of normal learning, educators can develop targeted strategies to help students overcome these challenges and improve their reading fluency.

The other choices do not accurately capture the meaning of "reversals" in the context of reading instruction. Creating new words, changing meanings, or using synonyms incorrectly represent different aspects of language processing or word usage that do not align with the concept of reversing letter order in written words.