How It Works
Also known as balanced literacy, the whole language approach is an educational philosophy that teaches children to read by using strategies that show how language is a system of parts that work together to create meaning. While it may sound as if this method discounts phonics, the use of phonemic awareness (or sub-lexical reading) is one of its components. The whole language philosophy also teaches students to recognize core words as a single word instead of having them sound out all words phonetically. In addition, the whole language approach encourages students to use reading and writing for everyday purposes, such as making a list or leaving a note, rather than just to decode words and text.
Potential Drawbacks
Some scholars have suggested that the whole language approach has disadvantages for early readers. Specifically, they have suggested that students who are taught to read using the whole language approach may have difficulty learning to spell if they do not receive phonics instruction as well. “The teaching of phonics is an important aspect of beginning reading instruction,” the IRA states in its “Role of Phonics in Reading Instruction” advisory. “Phonics instruction, to be effective in promoting independence in reading, must be embedded in the context of a total reading/language arts program.”
Benefits of Multiple Approaches
The organization has also maintained that no single reading method will best suit a particular child. In other words, some reading methods will work better for some children more than others. Educators may draw from a variety of approaches to teaching children to read. If you feel like the approach used by your child’s teacher isn’t working or you’re concerned about the approach’s disadvantages, discuss your concerns with the teacher or a school administrator. If your child has been exposed to various literacy approaches and continues to struggle to read, speak to a teacher or your child’s pediatrician about the possibility that your child may have a learning disability in reading. All children are different and learn to read at their own pace. Just because your child isn’t as skillful of a reader as their classmates or siblings doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a learning disorder. If they do have a disability, though, early intervention is the key to preventing it from halting their academic achievement.
