Final answer:
A student with difficulty in phoneme blending would not be able to combine /th/ and /irst/ to say 'thirst'. This difficulty stems from challenges in processing and combining sounds, which is crucial for reading and may be related to dyslexia.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student who is struggling with phoneme blending would be unable to read the phonemes /th/ and /irst/ and correctly say "thirst." This skill involves blending separate sounds to form a word, and if a student has difficulty with it, they would not be able to synthesize the individual sounds into the complete word 'thirst' when presented with the separate phonemes.
Phoneme blending is a critical component of early literacy development, as it allows children to decode unfamiliar words by sounding them out. When a student has challenges with phoneme blending, it usually indicates difficulty in processing and combining the distinct sounds that make up words. The issue might be related to a language processing disorder, such as dyslexia, where the brain's ability to process letters and sounds is affected. This makes reading a frustrating experience for dyslexic students, often leading to letter reversals and difficulty in spelling. Strategies like phonics instruction can be particularly beneficial in helping students with phoneme blending difficulties.