Which of the following best describes phoneme blending?

Phoneme blending refers to the process of taking individual phonemes—the smallest units of sound in a language—and combining them to form a word. This skill is crucial for early reading development as it enables children to decode words they encounter in written form. For instance, if a child hears the sounds /c/, /a/, and /t/, they need to blend these sounds together to say the word "cat."

This ability to string together phonemes is foundational for reading and writing because it supports the understanding of how sounds correlate with letters, which is essential for literacy development. Phoneme blending helps children develop their phonological awareness, allowing them to better comprehend the structure of words and aiding in their overall language skills.