What is the main objective of teaching phonemic awareness skills?

The main objective of teaching phonemic awareness skills is to support overall literacy development. Phonemic awareness involves the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This foundational skill is crucial because it lays the groundwork for developing reading and writing abilities. When students can recognize and work with phonemes, they are better equipped to understand the relationship between sounds and letters, which is essential for decoding words while reading and encoding them when writing.

Strong phonemic awareness contributes to reading fluency, vocabulary growth, and comprehension, making it a critical component of literacy instruction. By focusing on enhancing phonemic awareness, educators can help students develop the skills necessary to become proficient readers and writers, ultimately supporting their overall literacy development.