If a student can only identify certain letters in words, what skill are they beginning to understand?

The alphabetic principle is a foundational skill in reading that involves understanding the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds. When a student can identify certain letters in words, it indicates they are beginning to grasp how individual letters represent specific sounds, which is central to the alphabetic principle. This skill is crucial for decoding words and helps students make sense of written language by connecting spoken language to print.

While phonological awareness is related, it encompasses a broader understanding of sounds in language, including the ability to hear and manipulate sounds at various levels (such as syllables and phonemes) rather than just recognizing letters. The concept of syllabication refers to breaking words into syllables and is typically a more advanced skill. The usage of sight words involves recognizing common words that may not strictly follow phonetic rules, focusing more on memorization than understanding the letter-sound relationships. Identifying letters is a key step in developing the alphabetic principle, making it the most relevant choice in this context.