Which aspect of literacy does phonological awareness contribute to?

Phonological awareness plays a critical role in decoding abilities, which is the skill of translating written words into their spoken form. This involves recognizing the sound structures of the language, such as phonemes, syllables, and rhymes. Children with strong phonological awareness can identify and manipulate sounds in words, which enables them to decode unfamiliar words more effectively.

Decoding is essential for reading proficiency, as it allows individuals to make sense of the written text by connecting letters to their corresponding sounds. When students can hear and work with the sounds of spoken language, they are more equipped to sound out words when reading, leading to improved reading fluency and overall literacy skills.