What is the best definition of "phonemic awareness"?

Phonemic awareness is fundamentally the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. This skill is a crucial component of reading development as it lays the foundation for phonics, which connects these sounds to their corresponding letters and letter combinations. The ability to isolate sounds, blend them together, and segment them from words enables learners to decode and spell words effectively.

The other options emphasize different aspects of literacy skills but do not capture the essence of phonemic awareness. For example, writing words correctly relates to spelling and orthographic skills, while reading sentences fluently pertains to reading comprehension and speed. Understanding the meaning of words in context is more about vocabulary and comprehension rather than the foundational sound skills involved in phonemic awareness.