OVERVIEW

Phonological Awareness is the ability a person has to hear, identify, isolate, categorize, and manipulate the spoken sounds in a language. Many of these skills are acquired naturally through listening and speaking acquisition as a child. They are used subconsciously when speaking, reading and writing.

Direct instruction in phonological awareness skills can enhance and accelerate literacy development for readers of all ages. There image below diagrams the relationship of the four main components of Phonological Awareness skills to focus on: hearing words, syllables, onset-rhyme and alliteration, and phonemic awareness.