Which letter sounds are least advantageous for beginning readers?

The sounds associated with the letters /x/, /q/, and /y/ are considered less advantageous for beginning readers because they are less common in English and do not consistently represent a single phoneme. For example, /x/ typically appears at the end of words or in specific contexts (like "fox" or "box") and is not frequently encountered alone at the beginning of words. Likewise, /q/ usually appears in combination with a 'u' (as in "queen"), which can add complexity for novice readers who are just beginning to decode sounds. The letter /y/ can represent different sounds (as in "yes" or "gym"), adding further inconsistency for learners.

In contrast, the other options contain sounds that are more frequently used in a variety of contexts and are often found in early phonics instruction, making them easier for beginning readers to recognize and practice. The more commonly found phonemes tend to provide a better foundation for decoding and reading fluency at the outset of learning.