In the context of phonemic awareness, what does phoneme segmentation refer to?

Phoneme segmentation is specifically the skill of breaking down words into their individual sounds, also known as phonemes. This ability allows children to recognize and manipulate the smallest units of sound in words, which is a critical component of developing phonemic awareness. For example, the word “cat” can be segmented into the sounds /k/, /æ/, and /t/.

This skill is foundational for reading and spelling, as it helps learners understand how sounds form the basis of written words. Children who can effectively segment phonemes can more easily decode new words when reading or encode words when spelling. Recognizing individual sounds supports their overall literacy development, making phoneme segmentation a vital aspect of phonemic awareness.