Which pillar of literacy instruction focuses on identifying individual sounds in words?

The pillar of literacy instruction that focuses on identifying individual sounds in words is phonemic awareness. This concept refers specifically to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. It is a critical skill that serves as the foundation for developing reading and spelling abilities.

Phonemic awareness helps young learners develop sensitivity to the sounds in spoken language, which is essential for them to match those sounds to letters when they learn to read. Engaging in activities like segmenting sounds, blending sounds, and manipulating sounds encourages children to develop a strong phonological processing ability, which supports their future literacy skills.

While phonics is related and involves the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters, it is more about the application of phonemic awareness in reading and writing contexts rather than the identification of sounds themselves. Fluency pertains to the ability to read smoothly and quickly, while comprehension involves understanding the meaning of the text. These aspects of literacy instruction build upon the foundational skills developed through phonemic awareness.