[Tony O]

It's like comparing an advanced class in a subject to a beginning class. Phoenetics provides the foundational tools for a child (or anyone for that matter) when challeged by a new written word, phoenetics are applied to translate the word into the imputed sound of the word if spoken. At that point context is added to the new word by the phoenetic association. “Whole Word” reading is adult reading, you see a word, you recognize and can speak it, and figure out the context. Neither is wrong, it's a matter of which process should be taught first.

[aruanan]

Phonics is an excellent way to teach reading. It give the child a way to recognize words that he already knows that is not possible in any other form of written language. It enables a kid to quickly gain mastery in reading. I never knew a time that I wasn’t able to read. My nephew in kindergarten and first grade could fluently read aloud the Chronicles of Narnia (and just about anything else—I remember him reading Podkayne of Mars) at a level that you just had to laugh over because it was so beautiful.