Which phonological awareness skill should the kindergarten teacher focus on last when teaching segmenting phonemes?

The focus on segmenting words with consonant blends as the last phonological awareness skill is justified because it involves a higher level of complexity compared to the other skills listed. Segmenting phonemes requires students to break down sounds in words, and consonant blends consist of two or more consonants that appear together, each retaining its own sound, making it more challenging for kindergartners.

Before mastering this skill, students typically benefit from a foundation in simpler phonological awareness tasks, such as counting syllables, identifying individual phonemes, and recognizing word boundaries. These foundational skills help build a clear understanding of how words are constructed from phonemes, making it easier for students to tackle the more complex task of segmenting words that include consonant blends. By developing these basic skills first, students gain confidence and the necessary phonemic awareness required to approach segmenting blends effectively.