Segmenting
Segmenting is the reverse of blending: instead of combining sounds into a word, a child listens to a whole word and pulls it apart into the sounds that make it up. It's a key skill for spelling, since spelling means writing down each sound in order.
Examples
- • map → /m/ /a/ /p/
- • sit → /s/ /i/ /t/
- • dog → /d/ /o/ /g/
How to practice at home
- Use three counters or claps for a three-sound word.
- Say the word, then slide a counter for each sound: /m/ /a/ /p/.
- Go from sounds back to the word to check.
- Then write one letter for each counter.
Watch out for
Splitting into syllables instead of sounds. "Sun" is one syllable but three sounds: /s/ /u/ /n/.