What is the primary contribution of blending phonemes orally to reading development?

The primary contribution of blending phonemes orally to reading development is that it prepares students to combine letter-sounds to decode words. This process is fundamental in helping emerging readers understand how individual sounds (phonemes) come together to form words.

Blending phonemes allows students to hear and manipulate the sounds in spoken language, which directly supports their ability to decode written text later on. When students can effectively blend sounds, they can apply these skills when confronting unfamiliar words, thus enhancing their overall reading proficiency.

In contrast, options regarding improving vocabulary comprehension, enhancing fluency in reading, and developing spelling skills focus on different aspects of literacy. While those skills are important, they primarily build upon the foundational ability to decode words gained through phonemic awareness, which is nurtured through blending phonemes.