When planning phonemic awareness lessons for ELLs, what should Ms. Meixner focus on?

Focusing on sounds that are different between English and the students' first language (L1) is vital because phonemic awareness is all about recognizing and manipulating the sounds in spoken language. ELLs may not have certain sounds present in their L1, which can result in difficulties when they encounter these sounds in English. By emphasizing these differences, Ms. Meixner can help her students become more aware of and attuned to the specific phonemes in English that they need to learn. This targeted instruction enables students to develop crucial skills for decoding words and understanding the phonetic structure of the language, which are foundational for effective reading and writing in English.

In contrast, while commonalities between English and the students' L1 may provide some comfort and reassurance, they do not directly address the specific challenges that arise from unfamiliar sounds. Reading comprehension skills in L1 or writing skills in the students' second language (L2) are important, but they do not directly support the immediate goal of building phonemic awareness, which is foundational for both reading and speaking in English.