Which teacher practice best reinforces children's awareness of letter-sound correspondences?

Pointing to the initial consonant of words aloud is a practice that directly reinforces children's awareness of letter-sound correspondences. By identifying and articulating the initial sound of words, teachers explicitly connect letters with their corresponding sounds. This helps children form the foundational skills necessary for decoding words as they begin to read independently.

This method encourages phonemic awareness, which is crucial for reading development. As children hear the sound associated with a letter, they become more adept at recognizing and using these sounds when they encounter new words.

While reading silently or encouraging shared reading can support overall literacy development, they do not specifically target the recognition of letter-sound relationships. Asking comprehension questions focuses more on understanding the meaning of texts rather than the basic sound-letter connections essential for early reading skills. Thus, the practice of pointing out initial consonants gives children the targeted practice they need to improve their phonics skills.