[jimfree]

Phonics is a learning tool only, like training wheels. Taking in whole sentences at a glance is the end state of the highly literate. Many people who are ‘eulexic’ skip the phonics part almost entirely, and jump to the end state.

The mistake is the supposition that if some people can do this, everyone can.

I'm a fan of phonics. I learned to read with phonics; my grandchildren are being homeschooled with phonics. But your comment intrigues me much. It suggests that phonetics and whole language should complement each other.

Outside of my day job I teach dance and I coach racewalking. In those domains we often talk about visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. Some people perform quite well when I simply say "do this" and demonstrate. Others need a description; most of those need me to break down the motion into its component parts. Some others need me to push an arm or leg into correct position.

Good teaching and coaching recognizes that different approaches may be indicated for different folks. Reading should not be excluded from that consideration.

[proxy_user]

My whole family is eulexic, including me. I chucked phonics when I started the second grade and discovered I could plow through any book. I did not have the intellectual background to understand the content of any book, but could read them at ridiculous speeds anyway.