What skill is primarily developed through the practice of phonemic segmentation?

• A. Decoding
• B. Comprehension
• C. Fluency
• D. Vocabulary

Answer: (A)

Phonemic segmentation involves breaking down words into their individual phonemes, or sounds. This skill is essential for decoding, as it enables students to recognize and manipulate the sounds within words. By practicing phonemic segmentation, learners become more proficient at converting written text into its spoken equivalent, which is a fundamental step in reading. This allows them to decode unfamiliar words by sounding them out, thereby improving their reading skills.

In contrast, the skills concerned with comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development involve different aspects of reading. Comprehension focuses on understanding the meaning of text, fluency pertains to the speed and accuracy of reading, and vocabulary is about the range of words a person knows. While these skills are interconnected and are all important for reading development, phonemic segmentation is specifically geared towards enhancing decoding abilities.