https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/phonemic-awareness/
This post makes some interesting points about young children and trying to segment, sound out, drop endings, etc. We had a class that broke down the phonemes and I was in a Kindergarten class in the Spring, so I have witnessed exactly what she is saying. We don’t really assess the children on reading at my work, but I may ask in the middle of the year to see the progress of some of the pre-K students.