What does oral segmenting help a child do?

Oral segmenting is a crucial skill in phonemic awareness, as it enables a child to break down words into their individual sounds, or phonemes. This process helps children understand that words are composed of smaller sound units, which is fundamental for developing reading and spelling skills. By correctly identifying these individual sounds, children can improve their ability to decode unfamiliar words and enhance their overall literacy skills. This skill lays a strong foundation for reading fluently and accurately, as well as for writing. Understanding how to segment words into their constituent sounds is essential for children, especially when they begin to tackle more complex language tasks.