Which aspect of reading ability is developed through phonological awareness activities?

Phonological awareness activities specifically focus on the awareness and manipulation of sounds in spoken language. This ability encompasses various skills, such as recognizing and working with the individual sounds (phonemes) in words, as well as understanding how these sounds can be blended, segmented, and manipulated.

Sound manipulation refers directly to tasks that require individuals to change, add, or remove sounds in words, which is a core component of phonological awareness. By engaging in activities that involve sound manipulation, learners develop their ability to hear and work with sounds, which is foundational for reading and writing. This skill is critical because it helps students decode words, facilitating their overall reading development.

In contrast, while word comprehension, reading fluency, and vocabulary expansion are essential components of reading ability, they are not directly developed through phonological awareness activities. Instead, these skills build upon a child's proficiency with phonological awareness, particularly as they learn to decode and encode the words they hear and express.