What is meant by 'phonemic awareness' in structured literacy?

Phonemic awareness refers specifically to the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds, or phonemes, within words. This foundational skill is crucial in structured literacy as it supports the development of reading and spelling. When a student has strong phonemic awareness, they can break words down into their component sounds and understand how these sounds can be combined to form words. This process helps students to decode unfamiliar words when reading and to encode or spell words correctly.

Recognizing that phonemic awareness is distinct from recognizing letters and words or having knowledge of grammar rules highlights its focused nature. It does not encompass broader literacy skills such as comprehension or writing sentences but instead zeroes in on the auditory aspect of language, which is essential for early reading development. Understanding this concept is vital for effective literacy instruction, making the ability to identify sounds in words a key component of the structured approach to literacy education.