Rebecca Treiman|Susan E. Stothard|Margaret J. Snowling
Knowledge of letter sounds in children from England
Washington University in St. Louis|Durham University|University of Oxford
abstract learning sounds letters important learning decode printed words key component phonics instruction letter sounds easier children others studies differences shed light factors influence childrens learning present study examined knowledge sounds lowercase letters among children england governmentmandated curriculum specifies order letter sounds taught letters sounds taught names participants 355 children nursery mean age 4 years 4 months reception mean age 5 years 4 months year 1 6 years 4 months classes order teaching statistically controlled children better expected initial letter first name worse visually confusable letters unlike north american children previous studies perform better letters sounds beginning names types letters sonority age acquisition letters sound also influential implications letter teaching particularly children risk literacy problems discussed