Letter & Word Sounds «

Letter & Word Sounds

Phonological awareness is the ability to notice, think about, and use individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken language. For example, hearing the difference between pat versus cat or cat versus cut. It is the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds in spoken words and the understanding that spoken words and syllables are made up of sequences of speech sounds. Phonological awareness is a critical part of learning to read and write and is used for spelling and decoding words.

Research indicates that the most common cause of early reading difficulties is a weakness in children’s phonological processing skills. Studies indicate that 10 minutes a day of intentional instruction that is playful and engaging for children can make a difference for children’s emerging reading skills.

Abby Brown, Early Literacy Specialist