[BenKenobi]

Garbage.

Whole word does not work.

I have to tutor kids who get tossed away from the system, and the best part of my day is when they realise they are not stupid.

I teach phonics. I show them how words and sounds are connected with one another, something you think would be taught in elementary, but it is not taught. Then the kid struggles and thinks that he’s stupid and takes that chip on his shoulder through life.

Then the kid flunks out and gets sent to me.

[Tax-chick]

I’m teaching 6th grade Sunday School this year, and I learned this week that I’m not going to be able to just go around the room and have the students take turns reading a paragraph, because two out of the six I called on last time couldn’t read. (And this class doesn’t have any immigrant students.) I’ll have to ask for volunteers every time.

I expected this when I taught first grade, but not 6th.

[philman_36]

Whole word does not work.
Perhaps you should modify your statement. Maybe...Whole word does not work for my kids.
It does work, no matter what you say as my kids are living proof that it does. The problem is that it doesn't work well in institutional settings.
I taught my kids to read, not the public schools.