What are the advantages of knowing letter names alongside letter sounds?

Knowing letter names alongside letter sounds significantly enhances phonemic awareness, which is a crucial skill in learning to read. Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. When students learn the names of letters, it helps them to connect these names with the sounds each letter represents. This connection is vital for decoding words and skills necessary for reading fluency.

By understanding both the name and sound of each letter, learners gain a better grasp of how words are formed and pronounced. For instance, knowing that the letter 'B' represents both the name "bee" and the sound /b/ reinforces their ability to blend sounds when reading or constructing words. This dual knowledge acts as a foundational element in literacy development, contributing to a more robust ability to understand and manipulate language effectively.

In contrast, the other options do not support the importance of this dual knowledge or its positive impact on literacy skills.