What does phonemic awareness refer to?

Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds, known as phonemes, in spoken words. This skill is fundamental to developing reading and writing abilities, as it allows individuals to recognize how sounds combine to form words and how these words can be broken down into their constituent sounds. Mastery of phonemic awareness is crucial for effective phonics instruction, as it lays the groundwork for understanding the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters in written language. It is an essential component of early literacy development, enabling learners to decode words and improve their overall reading proficiency.