What is meant by 'ending sound'?

The term 'ending sound' refers to the phonetic sound that a word concludes with. This can include consonants, vowels, or diphthongs that are pronounced just before the word finishes. Understanding the ending sound is crucial for various language skills, including phonemic awareness, spelling, and pronunciation. It helps with rhyming, syllable identification, and analyzing word structures, which are fundamental components of reading and language development. Recognizing ending sounds also assists in improving reading fluency and aids in the decoding process when encountering new words.