Phonemic awareness is a critical skill in learning to read and spell. It refers to the ability to recognize that words are made up of individual sounds or phonemes, and understanding how these sounds work together to make words. This means being able to hear and manipulate the smaller units of sound within spoken language, such as syllables and rhymes, which helps children learn to read by connecting letters with their corresponding sounds (phonics). Phonemic awareness is an important foundation for learning how to read and spell, and it can be developed through activities that involve listening, speaking, reading, and writing.