Which component of fluency involves blending phonemes to form words?

Blending is the process that involves combining individual phonemes—the distinct units of sound in a word—to form complete words. For example, when students hear the sounds /c/, /a/, and /t/, they must blend these phonemes together to say "cat." This skill is crucial for developing reading proficiency, as it lays the foundation for understanding how sounds come together to create meaningful language.

In contrast, segmentation focuses on breaking words down into their individual phonemes, which is the opposite process of blending. Decoding refers to translating written words into their spoken equivalents, which includes both recognizing the letters and knowing how they sound, but does not directly refer to the act of blending sounds. Fluency encompasses overall reading ability, including speed, accuracy, and expression, but it is a broader concept that involves blending as just one of its components.

Understanding blending is essential for building a strong foundation in literacy, allowing students to read unfamiliar words by applying their knowledge of phonemes effectively.