Reading Wars

I am an enemy of whole language--and its variations--for three reasons: (1) it doesn't work (2) it is guaranteed to fail 10% of kids, those with the neurological disorder dyslexia; and (2) it ill-serves kids who need strong reading skills the most, those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nancy Salvato has a good brief essay on why the failed method of whole language persists. The problem is in the education faculty and what they put out.

Because the dominant form of reading instruction doesn’t work well, it is necessary to implement pull out programs such as “Reading Recovery” to bring children at the bottom percentiles up to speed.  This expensive intervention is in reality more whole-language. The persistence of Reading Recovery is unjustified.  It necessitates pulling students away from other classroom activities which puts them behind.  And just like in the teacher’s classroom, its success is a function of what the child already brings to the table.6 From what I’ve seen, because the RR teachers can give so much individual attention, they are more successful than the classroom teacher who must dedicate his/her attention to a classroom full of students

Definitions of whole language:
handy list of educational words, scroll down for whole language:
another handy list;
funny, sarcastic definitions of special ed and ed terms.
Essays:
detailed essay on language and reading, including look-say and whole language;
Mary Bowman-Kruhm, Ed.D.Essay: Whole Language: What It Is, What It Isn't; on whole language; Whole language and reading disability;

What I have written on reading instruction and learning disabilities
Whole Language Reading Instrution Is a Continuing Educational Disaster; Can Somebody Explain? Is Reading an Innate Trait; Brain Connection series start;

Comments

[Emily]

My friend Ennis (do you know him?) sent me over here because I'd once vented about whole language myself, based on my volunteer experiences. You said it better than I did, though.

You might also enjoy THE LANGUAGE POLICE by Diane Ravitch.

[Sarpy Sam]

As someone who 40 years ago was taught to read using the whole language method I totally agree. I still fight language today and have trouble with my speech and grammer. Only because I have made a concerted effort have I gotten better at it. With the albatross of whole language around your neck though you really have to want to improve yourself to do it and it is extremely difficult to do.

[liZ]

Sam, thanks for commenting, personally I think you write really well--you sound like yourself. Yes, there are the spelling errors (hey, I was a copy editor, I can't help noticing) but they don't detract from the forcefulness of your writing.

For those of you who don't know Sam, he's over to the right on the blog roll as "Montana Rancher" or the URL is here:

http://www.nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/