2. When to Teach Phoneme Segmentation and Blending

Grade Level

We typically introduce phoneme segmentation and blending in kindergarten and emphasize those skills in first grade. Some children may continue to need practice in phoneme segmentation through second grade and beyond. 

Prerequisite Skills for Phoneme Segmentation and Blending

Phoneme segmentation and blending are advanced phonological skills, coming after phoneme identification in the phonological awareness continuum.

Children should have an understanding of key early phonemic awareness skills before you teach phoneme segmenting and blending. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do my students understand that words are made up of speech sounds?

• Do they know that syllables are parts of a word?
• Can they segment the onset (beginning sound) from the rime?
• Do they know how to identify and isolate phonemes?

If you answer yes to each of these, then your students are ready to learn phoneme segmenting and blending.