A kindergarten teacher regularly reads aloud "big books" to her students. As she reads she points to each word, and during successive readings she encourages students to join in the reading as she points. Which of the following emergent literacy skills is this activity most likely to promote?

A. Awareness of consonant and vowel phonemes
B. Understanding of the relationship of speech to print
C. Recognition of basic phonics and spelling patterns
D. Knowledge of variations in letter-sound relationships