Date : June 25, 2023
Since the 1980s, there has been a big debate over the best way to teach children how to read – known as the Whole Language vs Phonics debate.
The Phonics vs Whole Language Debate
Phonics has long been the favoured method of teaching kids to read – helping to sound out words by teaching them the sounds the corresponding letters make.
More recently, the Whole Language Approach has been deemed to be more modern, based more on comprehension and thinking more of words as making up a larger whole, a collective language to help kids understand what they read rather than simply memorising what words look like.
Which is the best method and what method do we use in schools in Australia?
What is Phonics?
Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and spell words. Teachers introduce spelling rules and show children how to apply the sounds the letter combinations make out loud to decode the words. Phonics attempts to break down written words into simple components.
What is the Whole Language Approach?
The Whole Language Approach is a method of teaching children to read by recognising words as parts of a whole, making up language. Proponents of this philosophy believe that language shouldn’t be broken down into sounds and combinations of letters and then decoded, but that it is the combination of these sounds, letters, and words that make a complete language system, with words making meaning in their relation to each other. In this method, sight words are used to help a child recognise these when reading to help encourage fluency.
Which is used most in Australia?
In Australia, a hybrid approach is the most common method used to teach children how to read. Phonics are just part of the picture. Teachers here employ a technique called embedded phonics, where students are taught the relationships between letters and sounds while they read, as opposed to being taught beforehand. In the Whole Language Approach, students are required to memorise sight words so they can recognise them when they read. Embedded phonics is conducted while reading to provide context, and in Australia, teachers use this strategy when the opportunity arises.
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How can you start this with preschool-aged kids?
There are a few things you can do with your preschool-aged child to encourage this sort of hybrid learning. The first is to read. Read with your child, read to them, and let them see you reading. The next thing is to repeat anything they’re finding particularly tricky. This will give them the opportunity to practise and to help them remember the words for next time. It also helps them to focus on the meaning of the sentence which helps improve their fluency.
For more on how to improve your child’s reading skills, check out these great ideas!
Librarian Bec
Right now, Librarian Bec’s hard at work at your local library, sharing a passion for reading with little people and big. Bec writes about inspiring little readers and embracing lovely literature.
