Which of these skills helps with spelling words phonetically?

Phonemic awareness is the skill that specifically aids in spelling words phonetically because it involves recognizing and manipulating individual sounds in words. This awareness allows students to connect sounds with their corresponding letters or groups of letters, which is foundational to spelling. When learners can identify and work with phonemes— the smallest units of sound in language—they become more adept at decoding words and understanding how to represent those sounds with letters.

This skill is crucial for young readers and spellers, as it not only prepares them for writing but also enhances their reading abilities. By being aware of the sounds that make up words, learners can better predict spelling patterns and apply them when writing, leading to greater spelling accuracy.

The other skills mentioned, while related to phonemes and spelling, support different aspects of literacy development and do not target spelling through phonetic principles as effectively as phonemic awareness does. For example, phoneme identity focuses on recognizing the same sounds in different words, phoneme substitution involves changing one sound in a word to make a new word, and oral segmenting refers to breaking words down into their individual sounds. Each plays a role in literacy but does not directly enhance phonetic spelling as well as phonemic awareness.