Homeschoolers: do you use a whole language approach, or a phonics approach?

Question

There is a debate in my homeschool co-op over which is better. I am a fan of phonics but to some other homeschoolers, phonics is a DIRTY WORD!
I can see how a whole language approach can be useful, but only combined with standard phonics that's been a proven method for at least two centuries.
What's your take?

Answer 1

Whole language has been misnomered: people seem to think it means "whole word", but that's not at all what it is. Whole language, as it was originally intended, did not include systematic phonics instruction, but did still include phonics instruction. I've actually read of teachers who still used systematic phonics instruction within a context of whole language, which means to incorporate other language activities for communication and literacy.

So, it's not an either/or. Phonics was intended to be part of a whole language approach and those who aren't including phonics are missing out on part of the approach.

And yes, I'm on the phonics side, but also on the whole language side! Kids benefit when they have the opportunity to be read stories they can't read on their own, or be helped with reading stories that are beyond their phonics lessons, work on sounds, have special words, work on dictating or their own spelling of words and stories...

Answer 2

Like silly monkey said, it really depends on the child...and the beauty of homeschooling is that no one has to ascribe to anyone else's belief system.
We've never used phonics, as an exclusive means of teaching. Our children have all learned to read by being read to, and there's never been an aha moment where they could suddenly read. We have emphasized, when they have trouble with words to think about the sounds those letters make in other words, which is a beautiful blend of whole language and phonics.
My daughter has autism, and phonics was a lost cause on her. There is no cause and effect, so she memorized whole words. After a long time, phonics suddenly clicked for her. She was nine though, and I'd hate to think that if we'd pushed phonics that she wouldn't have even been reading. But with sight words, she was able to read recipes, favorite books, catelogs. She just learned new words every time.

Answer 3

My mom taught kindergarten in ps for 20+ years, and what she has always said is that when the schools started using the whole language approach is when we started seeing those articles about "Why Johnny Can't Read."

I have met a few people who never did ANY reading instruction with their kids and the kids could read and spell and were fine, but that is the exception. I have met others who didn't spend much time in reading instruction and the kids learned to read but not to spell because they didn't know which letters made which sounds. And then I've met a TON of people who didn't do enough reading instruction when their kids were in kinder and first who then have to go back and do some remedial work [for the spelling aspect] when the child is in 3rd or 4th grade and the work has gotten harder.

But whatever works for a particular child is what should be used...

Answer 4

Honestly, I think it depends on the child. I think in general, phonics is the best place to start, since it provides the skills needed to decode unfamiliar words. However, since there are SO MANY words in the English language that aren't phonetically spelled, you need a way to recognize those words as well. And some kids just don't "get it" with phonics.

I honestly couldn't tell you what "approach" I used with my kids. They learned the basic sounds of the letters as toddlers. It was a little here and a little there after that. Some of it they picked up on their own and sometimes I had to explain, "The letters I-G-H-T together make an "ite" sound."

The process just happened naturally, since we didn't actually do any "reading instruction" with them.

ADDED: I want to clarify that we didn't do any FORMAL reading instruction. We did a lot of reading to them, and they read to us, and we helped them when they needed it. And my girls read very well. I have one who would be finishing up K, who reads around 2nd grade level, and one who would be finishing 2nd, who is reading around 5th grade level.

Answer 5

I've seen phonics and whole-language programs come, go, and return. Currently-accepted professional practices include phonics and word structure skills in an excellent literature-based program.

Answer 6

Phonics seemed to be the key for my son.
we got him Leap Frog's fridge magnets which come with a docking station that, when a letter is put into it, will play a short song with the name of the letter and the sound or sounds it makes.
because of this toy he recognized all the letters visually and could tell you their sounds by age two. we would ask him what letter "ball" started with, and emphasize the b sound, to reinforce what he'd learned.
I did make him some "flash cards" of sight words...phonics only goes so far in deciphering reading. we never "drilled" with these, but he did enjoy copying them one letter at a time into a word processing program.
We also got him big aluminum letters of his name, and provided a text-rich environment. (fridge poetry, etc)
we are enthusiastic readers. modeling reading for pleasure is a great motivator, as is reading a lot to your child.
we visit the library at least once a week.
we formed letters from the curves and straight lines of his wooden railroad tracks.
he dictates stories to me which I type into the computer in a large, colorful font on a word processing program.

spelling is his latest thing. the other day he spelled the word "crashbox" by himself.
he just called me into the kitchen to show me that he had spelled out the sentence "my age is 3". with fridge magnets.


Read John Holt's "Learning all the Time" for some great insight on kid's natural abilities to learn.

Answer 7

That's the beauty of home school... you can use what works for your kids.
My son was taught in public school with whole language. He learned to read and spell after coming out of public school.
My brother learned to read at 4. He learned simply by 'reading' along with me reading to him. That was 'back in the day' when phonics were taught in public school. He had to learn them in 1st grade and they made no sense to him. He was reading at 4th grade level by that time.

Answer 8

Hi there,
The ability to read is vital for success. It helps your child succeed in school, helps them build self-confidence, and helps to motivate your child. Being able to read will help your child learn more about the world, understand directions on signs and posters, allow them to find reading as an entertainment, and help them gather information.

Here you can find a step-by-step online program that can help your child learn to read: http://readingprogram.toptips.org

Learning to read is very different from learning to speak, and it does not happen all at once. There is a steady progression in the development of reading ability over time. The best time for children to start learning to read is at a very young age - even before they enter pre-school. Once a child is able to speak, they can begin developing basic reading skills. Very young children have a natural curiosity to learn about everything, and they are naturally intrigued by the printed texts they see, and are eager to learn about the sounds made by those letters. You will likely notice that your young child likes to look at books and thoroughly enjoys being read to. They will even pretend to behave like a reader by holding books and pretend to read them.

For more info visit http://readingprogram.toptips.org

Answer 9

I have used phonics with all three of mine with wonderful results.

Answer 10

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With Children Learning Reading you can train your youngster how to separate appears and separate phrases in to phonemes, a vital issue whenever your kid is merely learning to spell.
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