California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Phonemic awareness is crucial for learning to read because it involves the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. This skill is foundational for understanding the connection between sounds and their corresponding written symbols, or letters, in written language. When children can identify and work with these sounds, they become better equipped to decode words when reading, which is essential for reading fluency and comprehension. This understanding of how sounds correspond to written forms is a key component in phonics instruction, which ultimately supports effective reading development.