Print awareness refers to a child's understanding of the nature and uses of print.

A
child's print awareness is closely associated with his or her word awareness or the ability to
recognize words as distinct elements of oral and written communication. Both skills are acquired
in the child's natural environment.

Alphabetic Knowledge is the ability to name letters, distinguish letter shapes, and identify
letter sounds. Some examples of skills included in this behavior are: pointing to words in a book,
reciting the alphabet, pretending to read, and connecting names of letters with their shapes.
Vocabulary Skills. A dictionary is the best way to get the meaning of new words, but a careful
reader can sometimes figure out definitions without turning to one, by using context clues and
word parts. Context Clues. Context clues are parts of sentences that can help a reader
understand strange words.

Phonics is the ability to identify that there is a relationship between the individual sounds (phonemes) of
the spoken language and the letters (graphemes) of the written language. Once phonics skills are
mastered, pupils will be able to understand words encountered in reading and be able to spell it out
correctlyh