The debate between whole language vs.
phonics has polarized educators

There is really only one answer--teach both.

Some students learn quickly and are easily
reached through whole language methods.

Phonics will help their spelling.

Some students struggle with the abstract
nature of reading and need structured,
organized assistance with understanding
letter/sound relationships. Once they can
decode, they can concentrate on
comprehension skills.

The two methods are not incompatible. As
professionals, we need to stop making
reading so political.

In my classroom, the children use wall cards
from Open Court. I had the privilege of
learning how to use them from Marva Collins.
I use 4Blocks extensively. For the children
who are having trouble decoding, I teach
Glass Analysis. We integrate this with
writing, too, as outlined in Words Their
Way.

My beloved grandmother, who wrestled with
life in a gritty, down-to-earth way, would
always tell me, "There's more than one way
to skin a cat."

There's more than one way to teach reading.
Different methods work with different
stud

Jan Wolfe, jwolfe1234@aol.com,
3/23/02

This month's letters: