Phonics vs Whole Language Instruction

Recently I was thrust into making a quick decision whether I should focus mainly on teaching phonics or using the whole language approach. My new students were showing gaps which needed to be filled before any significant learning was to take place. I began to focus on my initial idea only to realize that I still needed to expose them to whole words in a natural way.

So what is the best way to ensure that students benefit from the strengths of both approaches? The answer is to adopt a balanced approach to the teaching of reading. Below are the links to some great articles which suggest ways to get the best of both.