What is the first stage in phonological awareness continuum?

The first stage in the phonological awareness continuum is identifying sounds. This stage involves recognizing and distinguishing sounds in spoken language, which lays the groundwork for more complex phonological tasks. At this stage, learners begin to develop an awareness of the individual phonemes within words and the ability to discern different sounds.

This foundational skill is crucial as it establishes an understanding of how sounds operate within language, paving the way for more advanced skills such as blending (combining sounds to form words), segmenting (breaking words down into individual sounds), and working with onset and rime (the initial consonant sound and the rest of the syllable). Mastering the ability to identify sounds sets the stage for children to engage with the other components of phonological awareness effectively.