IS THERE ONE WAY TO TEACH READING?

Phonics?  Whole Language?

Is there one way to teach reading?  Phonics?  Whole Language?

Yes, there is!  And this is where all points of view can converge.  Everybody can be right.  What is at issue is only WHEN you do what.

So, let's sweep away the conflicts and proceed to what we can all agree on:

1.      Teaching the sounds of the language with their appropriate letter symbols FROM THE BEGINNING is essential.

2.      Helping students to understand what they are reading is essential.

3.      Teaching students to write clear sentences, paragraphs, compositions is essential.

Now we can proceed to the best order in which to do things, as supported by vast federal research of educational studies and as based on current neurological studies. 

Teach letter sounds and letter symbols from the very beginning.  As soon as the child learns a few letter sounds, he or she can immediately put them into words.  Simultaneously writing and sounding out simple words at first, and more complicated ones later, helps the child fix in his mind what is being taught, while reinforcing eye training.  Children's eyes have to be trained to go in the direction in which we read and write in English.  This careful training helps prevent reading, writing and spelling reversals.  Accurate spelling is important both for good comprehension and because inaccurate spelling imprints itself on the brain and is hard to correct.

Once the students understand the idea that letters stand for sounds and these sounds make up most of the words in our language in a predictable way, and they are at ease sounding out words independently, then directing them to comprehend what they are reading in a thoughtful way is appropriate.  Here all the elements of different types of writing (fiction, non-fiction), elements of stories (character, plot, conflict) and appreciation of beautiful writing all have an important place in a reading program.

A good writing program can also be started early by beginning with writing simple declarative sentences, moving to paragraphs and then to compositions teaching the structural elements of each.  Writing helps clarify thought in subject matter which might be of great interest to the student or can allow expressions of deepest feelings and concerns.

This is a well-rounded reading program that will equip students to explore the entire universe of myths, fairy tales, history, science, human thought for the rest of their lives and give them that which gives all of us our humanity, an understanding of times past, of other countries, of other peoples, and of one another.

References:

The Writing Road to Reading.  New York: William Morrow, 1990.

Report of the National Reading Panel: An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific Research Literature and its Implications for Reading Instruction, 2000.