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The Phonics Approach advocates teaching children by breaking down words into their component sounds, called phonics, then putting the phonics together into words (Gray et al., 2007). Reading in this approach involves learning gradually more complex units: phonics, then single words, then short sentences, then somewhat longer sentences, and so on. After mastering their phonics and being able to read simple words and sentences, children begin to read longer materials such as poems and stories.

The other major approach to teaching reading is the Whole-Language Approach. In this view, the emphasis should be on the meaning of written language in whole passages, rather than breaking down each word into its smallest components. This approach advocates teaching children to read using complete written material, such as poems, stories, and lists of related items. Children are encourage to guess the meaning of words they do not know, based on the context of the word within the written material. In this view, the material is coherent and interesting, children will be motivated to learn and remember the meaning of words they do not know.

Which approach works best? Each sides have advocates, but evidence is substantial that the phonics approach is more effective at teaching children who are first learning to read.

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13y ago

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